Save

Purity, Cult, and Empire

The Proclamation of Antiochus III Concerning the Temple and City of Jerusalem

In: Journal of Ancient Judaism
Author:
Julia Rhyder Harvard University Cambridge, MA USA

Search for other papers by Julia Rhyder in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3146-0662
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

Abstract

This article analyzes the proclamation of Antiochus III concerning the temple and city of Jerusalem, quoted in Ant. 12.145–46, in light of three sets of evidence: Greek comparative materials from the broader Mediterranean world; biblical and Second Temple writings; and archaeological remains from Hellenistic Jerusalem, especially those that attest to the presence of non-sacrificial animals in the city. The evidence suggests that Ant. 12.145–46 preserves traces of an authentic proclamation, written in the style of a Greek ritual norm and probably with royal backing. We should not conclude from this, however, that the proclamation reflects the reality of how all Jews in Jerusalem conceptualized the purity of the temple and their obligations when butchering and tanning their animals within the city. I rather argue for a more complex interpretive approach that views royal edicts as fueling local debates surrounding temple purity, the sacred economy, and priestly prerogatives in Hellenistic Jerusalem.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 290 290 17
Full Text Views 25 25 0
PDF Views & Downloads 92 92 1