The 4th century BCE has been eventful for the Jewish people:
- Exiled to Babylon, they witness the fall of a mighty empire before their very eyes as the Persians invade.
- Permitted to return to the land of Israel by the Persian emperor Cyrus in 370 BCE, they reluctantly take up the offer, with only 42,000 of their number actually returning.
- The returnees' attempts to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem are aborted early as their angry neighbors, the not-so-good Samaritans complain to the emperor.
- In Persia, Haman, the chief minister to King Achashverosh, hatches a plot to annihilate the Jews. But Queen Esther (who is secretly Jewish) comes to the rescue in 355 BCE.
- The next Persian monarch, Darius II, Esther's son, allows the rebuilding of the Temple in 347 BCE.
- The Jewish people living in the land of Israel are re-energized spiritually thanks to the leadership of Ezra and the Men of the Great Assembly.
It is now 312 BCE and the last of the Men of the Great Assembly, Shimon HaTzaddik, is High Priest. On the other side of Mediterranean, a new threat is looming. It is called Greece.
Rise of the Greek Empire
The origins of Greece are shrouded in mystery and date back to the time of Abraham, 18th century BCE, or perhaps even earlier. Historians disagree as to where the Greeks came from. They could have been people migrating down from Asia down through Europe and settling in the Greek Isles, or they could have been seafaring people who settled along the coast.
Whoever they were, the earliest inhabitants of mainland Greece (called Mycenaeans after excavations found at Mycenae) developed an advanced culture. But, around 1100 BCE, the Mycenaeans were invaded by barbarians called Dorians and all their civilization disappeared. Greece went into a "Dark Age" to re-emerge hundreds of years later.
The classical Greek period begins as early as 7th century BCE, though we tend to be more familiar with its history in the 5th century when Greece consists of a group of constantly warring city-states, the most famous being Athens and Sparta. The Greek victory at the Marathon (490 BCE),(1) the destruction of the Persian fleet at Salamis (480 BCE) and the victory at Plataea (479 BCE) brought and end to the Persian Empire's attempts to conquer Greece. During the last three decades of the 5th century, Athens and Sparta waged a devastating war (Peloponnesian War 431-404 BCE) which culminated in the surrender of Athens. More inter-Greek fighting followed in the 4th century but later in that century all of Greece would succumb to Phillip II of Macedon, who paves way for his son, Alexander the Great, to spread the Greek civilization across the world.
The late 5th and the 4th century are as eventful for the Greeks as it has for the Jews. Despite constant warfare, this is also the golden age of classical Greek culture ― the birth of democracy, the time of Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato.
Greek Inhumanity
While admiring the Greek contributions to civilization ― its politics, philosophy, art and architecture – it is easy to forget what Greek society was really like.
For example, we've heard of the "Spartan lifestyle," but what did that mean in practice? Well, for starters, at the age of seven, Spartan boys were separated from their parents; they lived in military barracks where they were beaten, and not even given minimal food to encourage them to steal. To be Spartan meant to be tough.
The Athenians, not as tough as the Spartans, were not what you'd describe as "soft" either. For example, they thought nothing of killing infants (a common practice in all ancient civilizations even the "elevated" ones). One of the most influential thinkers in Western intellectual history ― none other than Aristotle- ― argued in his Politics (VII.16) that killing children was essential to the functioning of society. He wrote:
"There must be a law that no imperfect or maimed child shall be brought up. And to avoid an excess in population, some children must be exposed [i.e. thrown on the trash heap or left out in the woods to die]. For a limit must be fixed to the population of the state."
Note the tone of his statement. Aristotle isn't saying "I like killing babies," but he is making a cold, rational calculation: over-population is dangerous; this is the most expedient way to keep it in check.
In warfare, the Greeks invented the "pitched battle" ― with thousands of foot soldiers colliding with the enemy, slaughtering and being slaughtered as they advanced. (The 80 pounds of armor and weaponry carried by the average Greek hoplite (infantry man) also necessitated a pitched battle since after about 30 to 45 minutes the soldiers were all exhausted) While we tend to think today of the Greeks as cultured and noble, it is shocking to learn how brutal their civilization (like all ancient civilizations) could be.(2)
The other great Greek innovation was the phalanx. Instead of the undisciplined," free for all" combat common in ancient warfare, the Greeks fought in disciplined battle lines; infantry advanced with shields "locked" together and spears pointing straight ahead. A well-disciplined phalanx created a formidable wall of shields and spears which was used with deadly efficiency.(3)
The one who took the Greek conquests to new heights was, of course, Alexander the Great.
Alexander The Great
Alexander, born in 356BCE, was the son of Phillip II (382-336BCE), the King of Macedonia in northern Greece. (And considered a barbarian by the southern Greek city states). Phillip created a powerful, professional army which forcibly united the fractious Greek city-states into one empire. From an early age, Alexander, displayed tremendous military talent and was appointed as a commander in his father's army at the age of eighteen. Having conquered all of Greece Phillip was about to embark on a campaign to invade Greece's arch-enemy, the Persian Empire. Before he could invade Persia he was assassinated, possibly by Alexander, who then became king in 336BCE. Two years in 334 BCE he crossed the Hellspont (in modern-day Turkey) with 45,000 men and invaded the Persian Empire.
The backbone of Alexander's Macedonian army was his infantry. They carried extremely long pikes (spears which may have been as long as 21 feet/ 3 meters.) These pikemen moved in giant squares called a phalanx, shields locked together, 16 men across and 16 deep-the first five rows of pikes pointed straight ahead creating a lethal wall of spear heads.
In three Colossal battles, Granicus, Issus and Gaugamela, that took place between 334 and 331 Alexander brilliantly (and often recklessly) led his army to victory against Persian armies that may have outnumbered his own as much as ten to one. His chief tactics were to always be on the offense and always do the unexpected. In battle he would lead his Campanion Cavalry right at the strongest (rather than the weakest) point of the enemy line. When he fights the Persians, for example, he goes for the most heavily protected point of the Persian force surrounding the Persian Emperor, aiming to destroy the leadership. When the Persian emperor Darius flees at the battle the Persian army collapses. By 331 BCE the Persian Empire was defeated, the Persian Emperor Darius was dead, and Alexander was the undisputed rival of the Mediterranean. His military campaign lasted 12 years and took him and his army 10,000 miles to the Indus River in India. Only the weariness of his men and his untimely death in 323BCE at the age of 32 ended the Greek conquest of the known world. It is said that when Alexander looked at his empire he wept for there was nothing more to conquer.
At its largest, Alexander's empire stretched from Egypt to India. He built six Greek cities in his empire, named Alexandria. (Today the best known is the city of Alexandria in Egypt at the Nile delta.) These cities and the Greeks who settle in them brought Greek culture to the center of the oldest civilizations of Mesopotamia.
Hellenism
The Greeks were not only military imperialist but also cultural imperialist. Greek soldiers and settlers brought their way of life: their language, art, architecture, literature, and philosophy, to Middle East. When Greek culture merged with the culture of the Middle East it created a new cultural hybrid-Hellenism (Hellas is the Greek word for Greece) whose impact would be far greater and last for far longer than the brief period of Alexander's empire. Whether through the idea of the pitched battle, art, architecture or philosophy, Hellenism's influence on the Roman Empire, Christianity, and the West was monumental.
The Greeks showcased all human talents ― literature, drama, poetry, music architecture, sculpture, etc. They glorified the beauty of the human body, displaying athletic prowess in the Olympics. Nothing regarding the human body was considered embarrassing, in need of hiding, or private for that matter.
(Athletic competitions performed in the nude were the norm in Greece. Our modern word "gymnasium" is derived from the Greek word "gumnos" which means naked. Public toilets often consisted of a bench on main street with holes in it; people sat there and did their business as others walked by.)
Naturally, human passions were venerated and this meant there were few sexual taboos ― even pedophilia and pederasty. Indeed, the sexual initiation of a young boy by an older man was considered the highest form of love and vital part of a boys education. Plato wrote of this in his Symposium (178C):
"I, for my part, am at a loss to say what greater blessing a man can have in earliest youth than an honorable [older] lover ..."
Even Greek gods were described in human terms and were often bested by human beings in Greek mythology; with time, it became the style of intellectual Greeks to denigrate their gods and speak of them with biting cynicism and disrespect.
In short, the Greeks introduced into human consciousness an idea which is going to come into play as one of the most powerful intellectual forces in modern history ― humanism. The human being is the center of all things. The human mind and its ability to understand and observe and comprehend things rationally is the be-all-and-end-all. That's an idea which comes from the Greeks.
Above all, the Greeks thought that this was enlightenment, the highest level of civilization. They had a strong sense of destiny and believed that their culture was ordained to become the universal culture of humanity.
The Jews had a different vision. The Jews believed that a world united in the belief in one God and ascribing to one absolute standard of moral values ― including respect for life, peace, justice, and social responsibility for the weak and poor ― was the ultimate future of the human race.
This Jewish ideology was wedded to an extreme, uncompromising exclusivity of worship (as demanded by the belief in one God) and a complete intolerance of polytheistic religious beliefs or practices. There was only one God and so only one God could be worshipped, end of story.
To the Jews, human beings were created in the image of God. To the Greeks, gods were made in the image of human beings. To the Jews, the physical world was something to be perfected and elevated spiritually. To the Greeks the physical world was perfect. In short, to Greeks, what was beautiful was holy; to the Jews what was holy was beautiful.
Such disparate views were bound to clash, sooner or later.
The Greeks vs. the Jews
During his military campaign against Persia, Alexander takes a detour to the south, conquering Tyre and then Egypt via what is today Israel. Alexander is planning to destroy the Temple, egged on by the Samaritans who hate the Jews There is a fascinating story about Alexander's first encounter with the Jews of Israel. (Who were until that time subjects of the Persian Empire).
The narrative concerning Alexander's first interaction with the Jews is recorded in both the Talmud (Yoma 69a and in the Jewish historian Josephus's book Antiquities XI, 321-47.) In both accounts the High Priest of the Temple (in the Talmudic narrative he is Shimon HaTzaddik ― the last surviving member of the Men of the Great Assembly) in Jerusalem, fearing that Alexander would destroy the city, goes out to meet him before he arrives at the city. The narrative then describes how Alexander, upon seeing the High Priest dismounts and bows to him. (Alexander rarely, if ever, bowed to anyone.) In Josephus's account, when asked by his general, Parmerio, to explain his actions he answered: "I did not bow before him but before that God who has honored him with the high Priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very apparel."
Alexander interpreted the vision of the High Priest as a good omen and thus spared Jerusalem and peacefully absorbed the Land of Israel into his growing empire. As tribute to his benign conquest the Rabbis decreed that the Jewish firstborn of that time be named Alexander (which is a Jewish name until today) and date of the meeting (25th of Teves) was declared a minor holiday.
So Alexander the Great does not destroy the Temple. And he listens when Shimon HaTzaddik tells him that the Jews are not enemies of the Greeks but the Samaritans are. The Talmud relates the interaction between Alexander and the Jewish delegation
They (the Jews led by Shimon HaTzaddik) answered, "Is it possible that these idol worshippers should fool you into destroying the House where prayers are offered for you and your kingdom that it should never be destroyed!" Alexander said to them, "What idol worshippers do you mean?" They replied, "We are referring to the Samaritans who are standing before you now." Said Alexander, "I am handing them over to you to do with them as you please."(4)
As a result, the Jews are given free rein to go trash the Samaritans, which they promptly go out and do. And Israel and Jerusalem are peacefully absorbed into the Greek Empire.
At first, the Greek authorities preserve the rights of the local Jewish population and do not attempt to interfere with Jewish religious practice. The Jews continue to flourish as a separate and distinct entity for 165 years ― a rare phenomenon in the Hellenistic world.
The vast majority of the peoples conquered by Alexander the Great have willingly allowed themselves to be Hellenized. The fact that the Jews ― with the exception of a small minority ― reject Hellenism is a strong testament to that ever-present Jewish drive and sense of mission.
The famed classical historian Michael Grant, in his From Alexander to Cleopatra (p. 75), explains:
The Jews proved not only unassimilated, but unassimilable, and... the demonstration that this was so proved one of the most significant turning-points in Greek history, owing to the gigantic influence exerted throughout subsequent ages by their religion...
But with time, Judaism, with its intractable beliefs and bizarre practices, begins to stand out as an open challenge to the concept of Hellenistic world supremacy.
For the generally tolerant Greeks, this challenge becomes more and more intolerable. It is only a matter of time before open conflict will arise.
1) The modern Marathon race of 26 miles commemorates the tradtion that a runner ran that distance from the Marathon to Athens with news of the victory and then dropped dead.
2) For a more detailed explanation of the brutality of the ancient world see my first book: WorldPerfect-The Jewish Impact on Civilization, Health Communications Inc., 2002
3) For an excellent overview of Greek warfare see: Peter Connolly. Greece and Rome at War.London: Greenhill Books, 1998.
4) Talmud ― Yoma 69a.
(24) A Greek-Jew, November 4, 2012 11:35 PM
The Wisdom of the Greeks and The Wisdom of the Torah are both great
"In short, to Greeks, what was beautiful was holy; to the Jews what was holy was beautiful." That was exactly the beauty of the Greek Civilization, it was the first time in human history that the internal and external beauty has been worshiped as something sacred and precious. That's why the Hellenic Culture created such an amazing art (theater, poetry, sculptures etc). On the other hand the Judeo-Christian wisdom was focused in an absolute true that no human can object therefore people are never really free... How we can define holy? And why is better to accept the "HOLY" (?) as beautiful and not the beauty (of nature, of wisdom, of heart) as HOLY! Even Abraham ibn Daud (1160) was the first Jewish philosopher to acknowledge the supremacy of Aristotelianism. Earlier thinkers unquestionably were acquainted with Aristotle's philosophy, but the systems of Plato and other pre-Aristotelian philosophers then held the field. From Abraham ibn Daud until long after Maimonides' time (1135-1204), Aristotelian philosophy entered and maintained the foreground, only again to yield its position gradually to Platonism, under the growing influence of the Cabala.The unification of Hellenic Wisdom with the Torah Wisdom would be DIVINE......
(23) Pericles Alkmeonides, May 26, 2011 6:25 PM
Greek "Inhumanity"
This is the whole phrase of Aristotle:"As to the exposure and rearing of children, let there be a law that no deformed child shall live, but that on the ground of an excess in the number of children, if the established customs of the state forbid this (for in our state population has a limit), no child is to be exposed, but when couples have children in excess, let abortion be procured before sense and life have begun; what may or may not be lawfully done in these cases depends on the question of life and sensation" I guess it doesn't matter if he the Philosopher was writing about life and sensation questioning the legality of abortion when sense has been created.... even today physicians cannot come to a consensus about the exact time that sense is formed in a zygote. Aristotle and other Greeks wrote extensively about ethics and morals and were by no means inhumane. Greek society's morality is based on Homeric Values of "Arete" which can be explained as bravery, friendship, hospitality and excellence in every human field. Alexander the Great was inspired by Achilles the main hero in Homer's Iliad. Alexander's "Bible" was Iliad and his teacher was Aristotle. So the Hellenistic culture was not only a hybrid of Reason and Logic but it was also a mix of morals promoting freedom of choice and liberty. Ancient Greek Tragedies highlight human nature, its limitations and the power of morality not imposed by God but by reason. Antigone breaks an inhuman law by the tyrant of Thebes to burry her dead brother. She is then buried alive by the tyrant but then the tyrant finds out that his son had committed suicide because he was in love with Antigone. The tyrant's wife also commits suicide because she lost her son and then the tyrant becomes the saddest man in Greece. There are numerous theaters through out the Hellenic world that similar tragedies were played promoting truth and morality.
(22) Jim, August 16, 2009 4:34 PM
Greek and Jewish culture mixed
Neither modern Jews (nor modern Greeks) are pure. Greeks had a huge influence on Jewish culture (and the world) that remains with them to this day(e.g. the formalization of concepts like physics, logic, biology, "philosophy (,as opposed to "a" philosophy) are natively Greek). On the other hand, that was then and this is now. A tiny number of Jewish people today have a huge influence on not only Greeks of today but the entire planet. I think the lesson here is that it is important to remember our ethnic past (and each others) but to also use reason to acknowledge our relationships between each other as human beings.
(21) Phil, January 27, 2009 2:29 PM
Alexander wasn't viewed as a barbarian
The statement that Alexander was viewed as a barbarian by southern Greek states isn't true. The foundation for this oft repeated myth is a speech by Athenian orator Demosthenes that feared Macedonian power (who himself was called a barbarian... as was even Socrates....which was also a pejorative like "unAmerican". In practice Macedonians has long been officially accepted as Greeks by the Elean Hellanodikai... judges of the Greekness of competitors during the Greek-only Olympic games. (which Macedonians competed in long before Alexander the Great or his father Philip) Other than that minor detail great read.
(20) Anonymous, September 4, 2008 8:31 AM
Its not your decision
who gives any human being the right to destroy the life of a retarded infant??? I'm fairly sure that EVERY culture will give a different explanation for what is or isn't perfect and beautiful. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER RETARDED INFANTS HAVE or DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE. whatever you imagine is the "perfect human race" is extremely different to what another person believes, and that is exactly how the Holocaust occurred. Because one group of human beings decided that they "knew" what was perfect, that belief lead to a horrifying event that destroyed millions of people. Therefor those who THINK that the human race is perfect without retarded or ugly people are being thoughtless and have that same Nazi Mentality which murdered many in there belief that it was the truth!!!!
(19) Anonymous, June 17, 2007 1:02 AM
To Egor E.
You wrote:
"What is wrong with liquidating infants who were born with obvious pathologies?... why would Greeks want to have retarded punks in their society?...do not diminish Greek outstanding culture at all. We still have their philosophy..."
I'll say we do! In people like you, who think homicide of infants with pathologies is OK- who wants "retarded punks" in our society as well?
Certainly not you, I can see that! Nauseating. What a revolting, sub-human way of thinking. I vote we eliminate those who have pathologies of the mind and think it's OK to kill "retarded" babies.
You won't mind, will you, to make some room for more beautiful people? Thanks for understanding.
(18) Grace, June 11, 2007 5:50 PM
Esther got around
I was surprised to learn that the Persian Monarch, DariusII was the son of Esther. I nerver read anything about her children. Does that mean that Darius II was a Jew? Was Cyrus the father or was it Achashverosh?
(17) Ruth Housman, June 6, 2007 5:57 AM
an interesting piece of history
I found this very interesting and downloaded it for study. With thanks. There is so much history I should know and I am eager for more. I was led to the author's book and found a rabbi mentioned in the table of contents: Amiel Avigdor. I looked him up on line to discover he had some profound thoughts about the value of songs of praise in ushering in piece. Since for me this month for some inchoate reason has everything to do with music, it seemed so appropriate to read this and also, so very beautiful. We should be singing praise because we need to recognize the beauty in this world and to give thanks for this, despite and through the pain we all encounter. Perhaps these dichotomies are part of the appreciation of each other and the need to heal or perform tikkun olam.
(16) Menashe Kaltmann, June 5, 2007 10:43 PM
Alexander The Great Engaged The Chachamim in Some remarkable dialogue
Thank you R. Spiro and aish.com in the very informative article.
It is very interesting to note that the Talmud records 10 philosophical questions that Alexander asked the Sages of Blessed Memory (The Chachamim). I believe that Alexander must have been an incredible personality of great intellect judging by these questions.
Also there is a very interesting video called "Lights" that describes Alexander's arrival in Jerusalem and the subsequent story of Channukah.
(15) Egor E, June 5, 2007 2:27 PM
What is the problem with Greeks??
It seems to me the essay is very pointless. Are ancient Jews better than ancient Greeks? After reading the passage I do not think so...
You try to show Greeks like savages of some sort...
What is wrong with liquidating infants who were born with obvious pathologies? Even now, thousands years later, we cannot treat most of those; why would Greeks want to have retarded punks in their society? They did their choice and it makes sense. What about fighting styles? How do you think Jews fighted at that time besides Hashem's help? Automatic guns? :) Yes, they did have a cilt of body. It's their problem. I also like good-looking people, especially beautiful girls...
And in any case all the things you mentioned do not diminish Greek outstanding culture at all. We still have their philosophy, architecture, etc...
(14) Smith, September 15, 2005 12:00 AM
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WOW! THIS IS THE BEST SITE EVER TO GO LOOKING FOR FACTS!! ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW, WOW, WOW!!
(13) Anna Loveroni, October 26, 2004 12:00 AM
wow, you make projects SO easy! The info. is great!
This site is absolutly amazing. wow, that's all I can really say...... WOW! I am just so absolutly amazed. I will recomend this site to all my professors and friends.
(12) Milos W. B. Dobroslavic, August 1, 2004 12:00 AM
These essays are absolutely amazing scholarship efforts.
The author should be commended for having contributed immeasurably to understanding the ancient relationships of other peoples, religions and the Hebraic culture. Most human empires arose due to influx of Jewish commercial instincts and practices, and the empires diminished with the advent of anti-Semitism, usually the result of jealous non-Jewish factors, and in some cases, the result of opposing Jewish elements. Forty nine Jews in one room will produce thousands of differing opinions on any subject possible. Thanks again for the amazing work done on these essays.
(11) Rachel, May 8, 2004 12:00 AM
God causes men to flourish or fail
I appreciated the information that you provided about the Greek Empire from a Jewish perspective. However, we must remember that it is our great God who preserved the Jews through each change of kingdoms. It is He who brought each kingdom or empire to power and it is He who overthrew each kingdom or empire. The Jews are great as a nation simply because they are the chosen people of God, and for no other reason. It makes no sense why Israel is still a nation after all the changes of power, except that there is a God in heaven who has orchestrated each event and changed the times and the epochs. Israel suffered punishment at the hand of the gentiles because she chose to break covenant with God, a covenant that she entered into willingly and said that "all that God commanded we will do." God, by His nature is faithful, and He is faithful to His covenant, even though Israel and Judah both broke covenant and followed after the gods of the assyrians and the babylonians. God used the very nations that Israel and Judah committed spiritual adultery with by going after their gods to punish them. But, through it all, God preserved a remnant. It is God, because He is faithful to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who has preserved the Jews. When we attribute Jewish survival to the strength of the Jewish character, we defame the God who has preserved the Jews throughout history, not because the Jews have deserved to be preserved but because God cut covenant with Abraham and God watches over His word to perform it.
Jeanette, June 7, 2015 1:10 AM
Amen
Could not said it better myself ra chel
(10) harold morgan, December 17, 2002 12:00 AM
very well presented!!
(9) Anonymous, December 17, 2002 12:00 AM
Need more detailed writings regarding Greek Culture and how it is diametrically opposed to Judaism.
I'm going to generalize, but it seems that most assimilated Jews in America value "Greek" culture. I am printing this article to give to certain Jews I personally know who feel that Judaism is "old fashion" and an uncultured way of life. Please continue in this vein. Don't forget to include (with proofs & references) how the majority religion (in America) was basically formed from Greek mythology. Your articles are most interesting and I hope as influential to others as they are to me. At the very least, they make a person think.
(8) Peter Wyetzner, May 26, 2002 12:00 AM
I'd like to suggest some corrections and comments about this page. First, the corrections-
There is some confusion between the sixth and the fourth centuries. Cyrus was king ("emperor" was a Roman term) in the later sixth century, when he defeated the Babylonians among many others and occupied the eastern Mediterranean. It was then he allowed the Jews to return. As they moved west in the late sixth century, the Persians encountered and fought the Greeks.
There were several kings named Darius. The first, Cyrus' son, fought the Greek states in the early fifth century. The third was king in the later fourth century, and was defeated by Alexander. I don't know why Esther belongs here; the ancient historical isources that describe Cyrus and his descendants give Darius a Persian mother.If it's from a Rabbinic text, then it's harder to know which Darius is meant, because those texts in general are not so specific or thorough about non-Jewish historical events.
Mycenaean Greece is dated archaeologically to around the 13th-12th centuries BCE. The period immediately after the Dark Age, from around 800 to 500 BCE, is conventionally called "archaic". The term "classical" is then assigned to the period after the wars with Persia, in the early fifth century, until the creation of the kingdoms after the death of Alexander. The period which follows is called "Hellenistic". It's the fifth century that is associated with the "golden age" of Greek culture- in philosophy, architecture, art, drama and poetry, etc.
The Greeks, along with many others, did expose children, but not normally to kill them- they were left in a public place where other people could either adopt them or raise them to be slaves.
As for the page as a whole, I think that in trying to encourage a sense of positive Jewish identity, you tend to make a bogeyman out of the other guys- in this case the Greeks, and lump them all together as if they were one indistinguishable group with inherently negative qualities. For example, the reason we know what we do about the Spartans is that other Greeks thought that as Greeks went they were unusually harsh and warlike, and wrote about them either to criticize them or to hold them up as a ideal of discipline. In either case, this image of the Spartans has nothing in particular to do with actual Spartans; it was a form of propaganda.
As for the character of Greek culture, it isn't sensible to accuse Greeks of being entirely focused on the human and the body. Compared to the Rabbis, they may have been, but at the same time they tried to place man within the universe and to define his duties to his society and his God. Greek religion and literature emphasize the importance of ethics, and they don't view God the way the mythological gods are portrayed in poetry like Homer, where they are used as literary characters who have to be flawed to be interesting. In fact, Greek literature often speaks of one God who is the source of justice and shapes human events. Plato didn't want children to be taught Homer because he didn't want them to get the wrong idea. Greeks also had lots of rules about proper and improper behavior, in public and in private. It may seem strange to us, but even homosexual relationships were divided into right and wrong, and people were sometimes brought to trial for this. Greeks invented the idea of blasphemy against religion, and they tried Socrates, for example, for teaching unconventional ideas to young people.
I also would discourage you from painting a picture of inevitable conflict between Jews and Greeks. Although today people talk about the advance of Western civilization, the Greeks were generally not interested in imposing their culture on others. There were many people who participated in both Greek and local culture. We know that in Ptolemaic Egypt, for example, there were many people who had both Greek and Egyptian names, and were part of both communities. Jews in Israel mostly didn't live among Greeks, but elsewhere in the Greek world, they were able to speak and write like Greeks while definitely continuing to be proud Jews. You can see this in what they wrote (for example the story of the translation of the Septuagint), so I think it would be unfair to dismiss them, any more than you would Jews who speak English or use the Internet. The actions of Antiochus against the Jews were exceptional- he does seem to have wanted to have a more unified culture in his empire, though not necessarily a Greek one. Hellenistic kings in general were happy to serve as both a Greek king and a Pharaoh, or a Babylonian-style king, and to respect local practices. There was even so a lot of resentment against Greeks taking over thrones and priesthoods in various countries, in Egypt and Babylonia as much as in Israel, and there were also rebellions in several places.
I don't think that the real character of the Greeks is the kind of thing that should keep anyone up at night; but if history really is important, then it should be approached with respect and caution. These were real people, with faults and virtues, and they deserve better than being treated casually or inaccurately in order to serve our agendas today. We can only hope the future doesn't treat us the same way.
(7) Yehudah, May 22, 2002 12:00 AM
I never knew before, and find it very interesting that that the Persian king who allowed the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem was none other than the son of Queen Esther. Being the child of a Jewish mother made him Jewish. What ever happened to him?
(6) Graham Clarke, February 25, 2002 12:00 AM
A rational and educational site
As an undergraduate historian I found your site balanced, revealing and refreshing. Wishing you all success for the future.
(5) Jan Cole, May 19, 2001 12:00 AM
Both sides to the coin
This was an excellent article. It showed favorable and unfavorable lights to all mentioned...the whole "no holds barred" thing. This is what makes history exciting.
(4) Sherry Redding, May 14, 2001 12:00 AM
Amazing
I never knew of such horrible acts associated with a culture that is considered so advanced for it's time. It is so obvious that they were a G-dless society. How can we set them up to such a level to be admired and venerated centuries later. Our humanism is showing to subscribe to such a culture. Thank-you for your wonderful insights and informtaion.
Sherry
(3) Anonymous, May 14, 2001 12:00 AM
History crash course #27 -very interesting and enlightening
This is very interesting. Although I have taken Jewish history courses and read books on our history, this pulls it all together very well so that our history is put into the context of what was happening around us. Thank you.
(2) Michael Solomon, May 13, 2001 12:00 AM
concise history of Greece with Jewish Perspective
Pleasantly short and to-the-point time line of Greece with quotation from Aristotle, et al demonstrating the unasimillatable Jews. Good show!
(1) John Bloomquist, May 13, 2001 12:00 AM
Astounding Revelations About Greeks
I love history and "Crash Course" is phenomenal. This is the stuff that
armchair historians relish. Thanks! Keep it comin'!!