Language:
English
Year of publication:
2000
Titel der Quelle:
Judaism; a Journal of Jewish Life & Thought
Angaben zur Quelle:
49,2 (2000) 206-216
Keywords:
Philo,
;
Jews History To 1500
;
Jews
Abstract:
Philo's essays "Against Flaccus" and "Embassy to Gaius on the Riots of 38-41" are the sole first-hand evidence of the anti-Jewish riots in Alexandria. In the former, Philo stresses the violence of the Greek mob and its attempts to have statues of the Emperor Gaius (i.e. Caligula) placed in synagogues in the city. He blames the Roman governor Flaccus for succumbing to antisemitic influence and for complicity in the riots. In the second essay, he blames Caligula for encouraging the Alexandrian antisemites. Philo took part in a delegation to Rome that attempted to win the Emperor's support for the Jews of Alexandria. The essay was written before Caligula made a decision (he was murdered in 41). Other sources continue the account. In 41 the Jews of Alexandria took revenge on the Greek pagans and then sent another, less moderate, delegation to Rome. The Emperor Claudius warned both sides against further fighting. 75 years later, Rome aided the Greeks in Egypt in a civil war against the Jews. The Jewish community in Alexandria, where Philo had attempted a synthesis of the two cultures, was then basically destroyed.
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