The Alexandrian Riots of 38 C.E. and the Persecution of the Jews. A Historical Reconstruction (Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism)

347 Pages·2009·1.76 MB·English

by  Sandra Gambetti

Th e Alexandrian Riots of 38 C.E.
and the Persecution of the Jews:
A Historical Reconstruction
Supplements
to the
Journal for the Study
of Judaism
Editor
Hindy Najman
Department and Centre for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto
Associate Editors
Florentino García Martínez
Qumran Institute, University of Groningen
Benjamin G. Wright, III
Department of Religion Studies, Lehigh University
Advisory Board
j.j. collins – j. duhaime – p.w. van der horst –
a. klostergaard petersen –
j.t.a.g.m. van ruiten – j. sievers – g. stemberger
e.j.c. tigchelaar – j. tromp
VOLUME 135
Th e Alexandrian Riots of 38 C.E.
and the Persecution of the Jews:
A Historical Reconstruction
By
Sandra Gambetti
LEIDEN • BOSTON
2009
Th is book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gambetti, Sandra.
Th e Alexandrian riots of 38 C.E. and the persecution of the Jews : a historical
reconstruction / by Sandra Gambetti.
p. cm. — (Supplements to the Journal for the study of Judaism,
ISSN 1384-2161 ; v. 135)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-90-04-13846-9 (hbk. : alk. paper)
1. Jews—Egypt—Alexandria—History—To 1500. 2. Jews—Persecutions—Egypt—
Alexandria—History—To 1500. 3. Jews—Civil rights—Egypt—Alexandria—History—
To 1500. 4. Riots—Egypt—Alexandria—History—To 1500. 5. Alexandria (Egypt)—
History. 6. Alexandria (Egypt)—Ethnic relations. 7. Alexandria (Egypt)—Politics and
government. I. Title. II. Series.
DS135.E42A43364 2009
305.892’4032—dc22
2009025041

ISSN: 1384-2161
ISBN: 978 90 04 13846 9
Copyright 2009 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, Th e Netherlands.
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printed in the netherlands
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments .............................................................................. vii
Abbreviations ..................................................................................... ix
Introduction ........................................................................................ 1
Chapter One Unwrapping Philo’s Narrative ............................. 13
Chapter Two Th e Rights of Residence of Alexandrian Jews
in the Ptolemaic Period ............................................................... 23
Chapter Th ree Th e Rights of Residence of Alexandrian Jews
in the Roman Period .................................................................... 57
Chapter Four Th e Prefecture of Flaccus—Th e Early Years ..... 77
Chapter Five Th e Precedent for the Riots .................................. 87
Chapter Six Spring 38 C.E. ........................................................... 137
Chapter Seven Agrippa in Alexandria ........................................ 151
Chapter Eight Th e Riots of 38 C.E. ............................................ 167
Chapter Nine Th e Cultural and Religious Background
of the Riots .................................................................................... 195
Chapter Ten Th e Years 39 and 41 C.E. ...................................... 213
Conclusions ........................................................................................ 239
Appendices
Appendix One Th e Chronology ............................................. 255
Appendix Two Th e Replacement of the Prefect of Egypt
at the Emperor’s Death ........................................................... 273
vi contents
Appendix Th ree Th e Prefect’s Jurisdiction over
Matters of Status ...................................................................... 277
Appendix Four Th e Topography of Alexandria .................. 282
Appendix Five Ethnics, Patris, and the Case of
Alexandreus ............................................................................... 287
Bibliography ........................................................................................ 293
General Index ..................................................................................... 315
Index of Documentary Sources ....................................................... 322
Index of Literary Sources ................................................................. 327
Index of Relevant Words ................................................................. 334
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Th is monograph develops from my doctoral dissertation, which was
itself originally a graduate seminar paper at U.C. Berkeley. Of course,
many people have crossed the path of this research during its long
gestation and in all its phases. I have not kept any list, so, I must rely
only on my memory, a very sore spot these days. To those who do not
fi nd their name mentioned below, please do not be off ended—we will
have a drink at some point, and it will be on me.
My work could not have developed into this form had I not been in
Egypt and Alexandria in 2001–2002. My stay in Alexandria came to be
especially important. I met there Mona Haggag, who fi rst introduced me
to the city and put me in contact with the Centre d’Études Alexandrines.
Jean-Yves Empereur allowed me to work in the Center’s library. At
that time, the library consisted of no more than two rooms, yet it was
a concentration of books, journals, off prints, maps only and exclusively
on Alexandria. In short, it was an amusement park for a student with
my interests. I divided my days between the Center’s library and the
city, walking miles a day north-south, east-west, up and down, back
and forth, trying to gain a physical sense of it and to fi nd a relationship
between what I was reading and what I was seeing.
Th e fi rst phase of the transformation from the dissertation into a
monograph took place in the library of the Department of Ancient
History of the University of Bologna, where I spent one summer in the
company of my old teachers and friends. Carla Salvaterra’s proverbial
wisdom does not need any additional praise here. I remember very
insightful conversations at lunch on the Tour de France with Federi-
comaria Muccioli. A particular thought goes to Alessandro Cristofori,
a real breathing bibliographical catalogue, always ready to use, whom
I exploited as much as I could as I strategically sat next to him in the
library for weeks. I am truly sorry for those who can never take advan-
tage of him—you have missed the experience of a lifetime.
I wish to close this note with two names: Antonio Sabattini and
Erich Gruen. Antonio Sabattini has been my fi rst teacher and laurea
thesis supervisor; from him I have learned the craft , the discipline, the
stubborness. Fundamentally, I would not be here writing this note for
my fi rst monograph, had I not met him in the fi rst place. I have some
viii acknowledgments
problems to spell anything about Erich Gruen; his help, encouragment
and support in graduate school and especially during the dissertation
process—and aft er that as well—go beyond any possible description.
To Antonio and Erich this book is dedicated.
Publication of this monograph was made in part possible by a grant
from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.
ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviations of authors, ancient works and modern literature in this
book follow the guidelines of Th e SBL Handbook of Style, Peabody,
Mass.: Hendrikson 1999. Th e titles of less common journals are writ-
ten in full.