Judeophobia: Attitudes Toward the Jews in the Ancient World

Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1998. frst edition; second printing. viii, 306 pages; 24 cm bibliographical references (pages 287-299) and index. Light sunning to wraps; faint foxing to the edges; near fine to near fine(+) overall. Paperback.

"Judeophobia firmly establishes Hellenistic Egypt as the generating source of anti-Semitism, with roots extending back into Egypt's per-Hellenistic history. A pattern of ingrained hostility toward an alien culture emerges when Schafer surveys an illuminating spectrum of comments on Jews and their religion in Greek and Roman writings. He then probes key incidents, two fierce outbursts of hostility in Egypt: the destruction of a Jewish temple in Elephantine in 410 B.C.E. and the riots in Alexandria in 38 C.E. Asking what fueled these attacks on Jewish communities, the author discovers deep-seated ethnic resentments. It was from Egypt that hatred of Jews, based on allegations of impiety, xenophobia, and misanthropy, was transported first to Syria-Palestine and then to Rome, where it acquired a new element: fear of this small but distinctive community. To the hatred and fear, ingredients of Christian theology were soon added - a mix all too familiar in Western history." —Publisher Contents: pt. I.; Who Are the Jews?; 1.; Expulsion from Egypt.; 2.; The Jewish God.; 3.; Abstinence from Pork.; 4.; Sabbath.; 5.; Circumcision.; 6.; Proselytism --; pt. II.; Two Key Historical Incidents.; 7.; Elephantine.; 8.; Alexandria --; pt. III.; Centers of Conflict.; 9.; Egypt.; 10.; Syria-Palestine.; 11.; Rome.; Anti-Semitism Antisemitism -- Greece -- History. Antisemitism -- Rome -- History. Judaism -- Controversial literature -- History and criticism. Classical literature -- History and criticism. Civilization, Greco-Roman. Jews -- history Prejudice -- history Antisémitisme -- Grèce -- Histoire. Antisémitisme -- Rome -- Histoire. Judaïsme -- Ouvrage de controverse -- Histoire et critique. Littérature ancienne -- Histoire et critique. Civilisation gréco-romaine. Antiquity. Antisemitismo -- Roma Antisemitism. Civilization, Greco-Roman. Classical literature. Judaism -- Controversial literature. Oudheid. Joden. Antisemitisme.