Chapter I: Preface

It is a counsel of perfection that any historical study should be approached with complete detachment. To such detachment I can make all the less claim as I freely admit an abiding reverence for the history of my own people, and, for the life of ancient Greece and Rome, a passionate affection that is frankly unreasoning. At no place in the course of the following pages have I been consciously apologetic. It is true that where several explanations of an incident are possible, I have not always selected the one most discreditable to the Jews. Doubtless that will not be forgiven me by those who have accepted the anti-Semitic pamphlets of Willrich as serious contributions to historical research.

The literature on the subject is enormous. Very few references to what are known as “secondary” sources will, however, be found in this book. A short bibliography is appended, in which various books of reference are cited. From these all who are interested in the innumerable controversies that the subject has elicited may obtain full information.

There remains the grateful task of acknowledging my personal indebtedness to my friend, Dr. Ernst Riess, for many valuable suggestions. Above all I desire to express my indebtedness to President Solomon Schechter, of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, at whose instance the preparation of this book was undertaken. Those who share with me the privilege of his friendship will note in more than one turn of expression and thought the impress of that rich personality.

MAX RADIN

NEW YORK CITY,
October, 1915

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CONTENTS

PAGE

Introduction 13

I. Greek Religious Concepts 21

II. Roman Religious Concepts 40

III. Greek and Roman Concepts of Race 48

IV. Sketch of Jewish History between 56
Nebuchadnezzar and Constantine

V. Internal Development of the Jews 66
during the Persian Period

VI. The First Contact between Greek and 76
Jew

VII. Egypt 90

VIII. Jews in Ptolemaic Egypt 104

IX. The Struggle against Greek Culture 118
in Palestine

X. Antiochus the Manifest God 135

XI. The Jewish Propaganda 148

XII. The Opposition 163

XIII. The Opposition in Its Social Aspect 176

XIV. The Philosophic Opposition 191

XV. The Romans 210

XVI. Jews in Rome during the Early 236
Empire

XVII. The Jews of the Empire till the 257
Revolt

XVIII. The Revolt of 68 C.E. 287

XIX. The Development of the Roman Jewish 304
Community

XX. The Final Revolts of the Jews 328

XXI. The Legal Position of the Jews in 350
the Later Empire

Summary 368

Notes 373

Bibliography 415

Index 417

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ILLUSTRATIONS

ARCH OF TITUS, ROME Frontispiece

RUINS OF THE AMPHITHEATER AT GERASA 62
(JERASH), GILEAD, PALESTINE

ANTIOCHUS (IV) EPIPHANES, AFTER A COIN 136
(from a Drawing by Ralph Iligan)

GREEK INSCRIPTION, FOUND ON SITE OF 186
TEMPLE AREA, FORBIDDING GENTILES TO
PASS BEYOND THE INNER TEMPLE WALLS AT
JERUSALEM

RUINS OF AN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE AT MEROM, 216
GALILEE, PALESTINE (Roman Period)

TOMBS OF THE KINGS, VALLEY OF KEDRON, 268
JERUSALEM (from Wilson’s “Jerusalem”)

SYMBOLS AND INSCRIPTIONS FROM JEWISH 310
CATACOMBS AND CEMETERIES IN ROME (from
Garrucci)

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