Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Philo and the Alexandrian Riots of 38-41

One of the few articles left on the LookSmarts FindArticles site, is one by Matthew B. Schwartz, 'Greek and Jew: Philo and the Alexandrian Riots of 38-41 CE,' Judaism Spring 2000.
The article is just as much an introduction to Philo's place in Alexandria and the Judaism of his time as to the riots of 38-41, and may thus serve as an introduction for those not too familiar with Philo. (Remember then to also read the articles by David T Runia available on the Philo page)!
The opening sentences of his article may serve as a summary to Schwartz view of Philo:Philo, the Jew of ancient Alexandria, was product and part of two worlds, Jewish and Greek. Much of his life and thought was devoted to sorting out the contradictions inherent in that situation and the personal dilemmas with which it burdened him. One answer he attempted was to seek tranquillity and quiet above the storm through a life devoted to the joys of philosophical contemplation and higher wisdom. However, although the dilemmas became more manageable, they did not disappear, and the wide world outside, impatient of philosophical solutions and ways, would intrude harshly, threatening to shatter Philo's contemplative calm, disrupting his peaceful and well reasoned order. Never was this more true than in the violent Alexandrian civil conflict of 38-41 CE between Jews and Greeks, perhaps a precursor to the Civil War of 115 CE, which concluded with the Roman destruction of the Jewish community. To my own annoyance, I have not been able to find out more about Matthew B. Schwartz. Is he the same M.B. Schwartz that have written some books on Judaism and Religion from a psychological point of view together with Kalman J. Kaplan. I really don't know. Do you?

No comments: