Questions and Answers
What Macedonian king spread Greek culture to western Asia as he conquered the eastern Mediterranean before dying at age 33?
Alexander III the Great
Which Greek god of wine defeats Herakles in a drinking contest in a mosaic in a Jewish home in the city of Sepphoris?
Dionysus
Where are the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles today?
In the British Museum in London
What holiday celebrates the Jewish victory over Greek occupying forces in Jerusalem in the second century BCE?
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What is the name of the process of making cultural things 'Greek' like architecture, language, religion, etc.?
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What is the symbol for the Septuagint?
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The Apostle Paul's statement, 'For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain,' in Philippians 1:21 is remarkably similar to the statement made by which philosopher nearly 400 years earlier?
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What is the name of the dynasty of 'successors' who took over Syria after Alexander's death, and aggressively attempted to make the Jews more Greek?
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What is the name of the Greek Translation of the Hebrew Bible?
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What is the story of a female assassin who saves her Jewish people by using her wise womanly ways to get close to the enemy general and decapitate him?
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What are two intertwining stories of a woman whose husbands are routinely killed by a demon, and a single man on a journey to retrieve a fortune?
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What is the name of the text that portrays the rise of the Hasmonean kings and the legitimacy of their dynasty?
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What is the name of the 'prequel' or backstory of how the last Jewish monarchy came to the throne via a revolt against the Greek Seleucids?
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What is an addition to the canonical text of Daniel that has Daniel proving to the king that an idol is fake?
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What text tells the story of two old men spying on a righteous woman and falsely accusing her of adultery?
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What man, commissioned by the Roman prefect who ordered Jesus's crucifixion, is mentioned in an inscription discovered at Caesarea Maritima?
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In what year was the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans?
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In what year did the Dead Sea Scrolls begin to be discovered and brought to the attention of scholars?
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Study Notes
Historical Figures and Events
- Alexander III "the Great": Macedonian king known for spreading Greek culture throughout the eastern Mediterranean before his death at 33.
- Dionysus: Greek god of wine who defeated Herakles in a drinking contest depicted in a mosaic from Sepphoris.
- Destruction of the Jewish Temple: Occurred in 70 CE by Roman forces.
Cultural and Religious Milestones
- Hanukkah: Jewish holiday celebrating the victory over Greek forces in Jerusalem, dated to the second century BCE.
- Hellenization: Process of making cultural elements, such as architecture, language, and religion, come under Greek influence.
- The Septuagint: Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, symbolized by LXX.
Key Scriptures and Texts
- 1 Maccabees: Chronicles the rise of the Hasmonean kings and Simon's declaration as leader and high priest.
- 2 Maccabees: Provides the backstory of the Jewish monarchy's revolt against the Greek Seleucids.
- Additions to Esther: Supplemental text to the canonical book, addressing its lack of mention of God.
- Wisdom of Ben Sirach (Sirach): Oldest and largest wisdom text from antiquity, discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Notable Locations and Structures
- British Museum: Current location of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles.
- Library of Alexandria: Ancient institution serving as a center of learning within a larger research facility called the Mouseion.
- Church of the Nativity: Built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem.
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre: Traditionally built over the Tomb of Jesus.
Important Artifacts and Historical Evidence
- Ossuary: Receptacle for bones placed after a body decomposed in Jewish tombs.
- Siloam Inscription: Ancient inscription in Jerusalem detailing the construction of a water channel.
- Trumpeting Place Inscription: Indicated where priests blew trumpets to signal the Sabbath's start and end.
Textual Studies and the Dead Sea Scrolls
- Dead Sea Scrolls: Discovered between 1946-1947; majorly housed in the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem. Contain fragments from every book of the Hebrew Bible except Esther.
- Cave 4: Producing the majority of Dead Sea Scroll fragments.
- Essenes: Likely authors of the sectarian documents found within the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Canonization Process
- Books like Epistle to Barnabas and Shepherd of Hermas were present in early complete Bibles but were later excluded from the New Testament canon.
- The Apocalypse of Peter was a disputed text that nearly became canonical due to its popularity and vivid descriptions of hell.
Noteworthy Figures and Events in Early Judaism
- Flavius Josephus: Jewish historian providing crucial insights into first-century Judaism and the Roman context.
- Herod the Great's Building Program: Included the Temple Mount Platform, Herodium, Caesarea Maritima, and Masada.
- Pontius Pilate: Roman prefect associated with the crucifixion of Jesus, his name appearing on an inscription found in Caesarea Maritima.
Birth and Life of Jesus
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem (4-7 BCE) and raised in Nazareth.
- Different birth narratives are found in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, focusing on contrasting visitors and circumstances.
Jewish Sectarian Developments
- The Pharisees eventually evolved into rabbinic Judaism, shaping the future of Jewish religious practice.
Significant Architectural and Cultural Sites
- Dome of the Rock: Built on the site of the former Jewish Temple.
- The Western Wall: Retaining wall built to support the Temple’s platform in Jerusalem, significant in Jewish worship.
Additional Key Terms
- Canon: Derived from Greek meaning "measuring rod," used to determine approved documents within religious texts.
- Miqveh: Ritual bath used in Judaism, featuring plastered pools with accessible steps.
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Description
Test your knowledge on significant historical figures and cultural milestones from ancient history. This quiz covers influential characters such as Alexander the Great and important events like the destruction of the Jewish Temple. Assess your understanding of Hellenization, key Jewish holidays, and essential texts such as Maccabees.
