Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus

Abstract

Greco-Roman Culture and the Galilee of Jesus, a book-length investigation of this topic, challenges the conventional scholarly view that first-century Galilee was thoroughly Hellenised. Examining architecture, inscriptions, coins and art from Alexander the Great's conquest until the early fourth century CE, Chancey argues that the extent of Greco-Roman culture in the time of Jesus has often been greatly exaggerated. Antipas's reign in the early first century was indeed a time of transition, but the more dramatic shifts in Galilee's cultural climate happened in the second century, after the arrival of a large Roman garrison. Much of Galilee's Hellenisation should thus be understood within the context of its Romanisation. Any attempt to understand the Galilean setting of Jesus must recognise the significance of the region's historical development as well as how Galilee fits into the larger context of the Roman East.

The Use of Greek in Early Roman Galilee: The Inscriptional Evidence Re-examined

“…The small number of first-century Galilean inscriptions is unsurprising, since published inscriptions from the second and third centuries ce are not numerous either, with most coming from the two main cities, Sepphoris and Tiberias (see Chancey 2005: 137). In comparative terms, Latin (2) and Semitic (2) inscriptions are few in number.…”

“…It might also demonstrate increasing tolerance on the part of the Galilean populace for such displays of Graeco-Roman culture (as his palace at Tiberias shows, Antipas himself was not averse to such display 30 ). Some 14 years later, civic coins minted at Tiberias also featured the name of the emperor Claudius Caesar (Chancey 2005: 185-86). Civic coins were primarily ‘internal’, in that they ‘were seen and used only within the cities’.…”

“…As a result of Martin Hengel’s work, there is general agreement that Galilee ‘fully exhibited key aspects’ of Graeco-Roman culture (Chancey 2005: 2). But archaeologists, in particular, have differed with him over the extent of Jewish accommodation of Hellenism.…”

“… 1. See, in particular, Chancey 2005: 122-65; 2007: 83-98. …”

“…Ilan 2002: 257, 297; Chancey 2005: 159; cf. Qedar 1986/87: 33.…”