Exam 3: From Classical Greece to the Hellenistic World: Cultures in Contact, 400-30 Bce

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There were large Jewish populations in both the Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms, though the Jews were in the minority in every area except Judaea.As in previous periods, the Jews had constant contact, and often conflict, with their non-Jewish rulers.Jews in particular treasured their separate religious and cultural identity.For example, the Temple in Jerusalem was open only to Jews who had been ritually cleansed, and it served as a central gathering point during major Jewish religious festivals such as Sukkot.Yet many Jews lived in other areas, and fewer over time spoke Aramaic.One of the most important influences of Greek culture on Jewish religion was the translation of the Hebrew Bible to Greek, an edition called the Septuagint.Jewish religious thought was elaborated in Greek-for example, in the book of Enoch, which included angels.More generally, the pervasiveness of Greek culture meant that it was probably more convenient for things like notices or signs to be written in Greek, even during the Hasmonean dynasty.Greek culture provided an opportunity to strengthen Jewish identity, as with the Maccabean revolt.However, Greek culture was also prestigious, and therefore very attractive.Some Jews used Greek gymnasia, and the Passover ceremony was transformed from a short ritual conducted while standing to a lengthier meal, like the Greek symposium.Though Judaism certainly retained a strong central identity, its modes of expression were deeply influenced by Greek culture.