The Story of Gviha Ben-Psisa and Alexander the Great

The story of Gviha Ben-Psisa and Alexander the Great is a rabbinic myth. The mythical Alexander represents the historical Pompey. Gviha, on the other hand, is a fully historical figure (a grandson of Jonathan Maqabi and great-grandfather of Josephus).The myth emerged out of the realities and anxieti...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Amitay, Ory (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2006
In: Journal for the study of the pseudepigrapha
Year: 2006, Volume: 16, Issue: 1, Pages: 61-74
Further subjects:B Gviha Ben-Psisa
B Second Temple
B Holy of holies
B Megillat Ta‘anit
B Leontopolis temple
B Pompey
B Josephus
B Alexander the Great
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
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Summary:The story of Gviha Ben-Psisa and Alexander the Great is a rabbinic myth. The mythical Alexander represents the historical Pompey. Gviha, on the other hand, is a fully historical figure (a grandson of Jonathan Maqabi and great-grandfather of Josephus).The myth emerged out of the realities and anxieties created by the rise of Hasmonean imperialism under Hyrkanos I and his sons, and by its collapse at the hands of Pompey. It defends the Jewish rights over Eretz Israel by establishing the Torah as a source of legitimacy in international law. The myth also reflects Jewish ambivalence towards Pompey: at once a defiler and a preserver of the Temple.
ISSN:1745-5286
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the pseudepigrapha
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0951820706069185