Early Judaism- A Comprehensive Overview

Jewish material culture if it influenced developments and trends in the

Jewish world or illustrates the conditions under which Jewish material cul-

ture developed.

Palestine in the Hellenistic Period (ca. 320-164b.c.e.)

Although we have substantial material evidence for Jews and Judaism from

the Persian period both from Palestine and the Diaspora (especially

Egypt), the conquests of Alexander and their aftermath initially left no

deep traces in the material record of early Judaism.

The situation in Palestine at the end of the Persian period is reflected

through excavations and surveys in areas such as Galilee and Judea. Exca-

vations in Jerusalem indicate the small size of the city, and seal impressions

give evidence of administration. Among the remains in Samaria are fortifi-

cations, coins, and seal impressions. Excavations on Mt. Gerizim have re-

vealed the beginnings of a large sanctuary on the acropolis. Papyri provide

interesting details about social and legal conditions during the second half

of the fourth centuryb.c.e.From Wadi ed-Daliyeh come fragments of

about thirty-eight documents and ninety-seven legible seal impressions.

From Jericho coins and stamped handles have been found, and from

Idumea around 800 Aramaic ostraca (potsherds) have been uncovered.

Although Palestine was strategically important to Alexander the

Great as a bridge between Egypt and Asia, he left few archaeological traces

in the region. Andromachos, the first Macedonian governor, was killed by

Samarians, but the revolt was quickly put down and a new governor in-

stalled. While few of the excavated structures in Samaria can be safely as-

sociated with the earliest Macedonian inhabitants (the three round tow-

ers on the acropolis being the most likely candidates), the skeletons and

documents from Wadi ed-Daliyeh may represent remains of some of the

insurgents.

For the first hundred years after the wars among Alexander’s succes-

sors, the Diadochoi, Palestine belonged to the Ptolemaic kingdom. It is

symptomatic of the situation in the first half of the third centuryb.c.e.

that fortifications are among the best-known structures. The most impres-

sive one is in Dor, but others are located in Ptolemais, Straton’s Tower,

Philoteria, Gaza, Shechem, and elsewhere. Ptolemaic rule was tolerant and

did not interfere with local matters. The papyri archives of a Ptolemaic of-

ficial named Zenon (260/59b.c.e.) give insight into the mechanisms of

323

Archaeology, Papyri, and Inscriptions

EERDMANS -- Early Judaism (Collins and Harlow) final text
Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:04:12 PM