Archaeologist
Dorothy Garrod's excavations (1929 - 34) of caves on the slopes of Mount Carmel
showed that Judea was
inhabited by the Neanderthals. The culture and tools of these Neanderthals
groups were similar to the ones living in Europe. Excavations at Ain Mallaha
and Jericho showed that a culture called Natufian existed during the Mesolithic
Period (Middle Stone Age). Natufians lived in caves as did their Paleolithic
predecessors and might have practiced primitive agriculture. During the
Neolithic Period (New Stone Age - 7000 BCE) inhabitants there domesticated of
animals, cultivated of crops, produced pottery and built permanent villages.
During
Copper Age (4th millennium BCE ) the Ghassulians immigrated to Judea. Their
origin is probably Jordan Valley. Pottery and copper axes from the excavations
near Beersheba linked them to Tulaylat al-Ghassul site of Jordan. In late 4 th
millennium BCE a new population immigrated from the north. In time, all these
peoples amalgamated into an early Bronze Age (3rd millennium) urban population
of Judea.
During
early Bronze Age (c. 3000 BCE) the towns of Judea had developed. There were
different tribes. Some seminomadic pastoralists of the east hill country were
called Amorites. The population of the plains and coast was called Canaanites.
A group of people called Hyksos, possibly related to the Amorites, took control
of northern Egypt in about 1630 BCE. The Hyksos might have been groups of
people of Semitic origin, called the Habiru, or Hapiru (Egyptian 'Apiru). The
term Habiru, meaning outsiders, was applied to nomads, fugitives, bandits, and
workers of inferior status. It is etymologically related to Hebrew. Egyptians
expelled the Hyksos into Judea in the late Middle Bronze Age (c. 1550 BCE). The
Habiru had established a military aristocracy in Judea.
Around
1292 BCE, new migrants of monotheistic seminomadic
Hebrew tribes called Israelites moved from the east into Judea. Three other
peoples were settling in Judea at the time, the Edomites in the south, the
Moabites east of the Dead Sea, and the Ammonites near the Syrian Desert east of
Gilead. Another group of invaders from the Aegean sea called the Philistines
conquered the coastal region of Judea in the early 12 th century. In the next
hundred years, they replaced Canaanites from the coastal plains. The
Philistines were identified as Peleset, the mercenaries used by Ramses III of
Egypt. Constant conflict with their neighbors made Israelite tribes unite under
a strong tribal chieftain named Saul. He became King of Israel (c.1020 BCE). He
defeated the Ammonites and the Philistines but was killed in battle against
Philistines (c.1000 BCE). David became the King and decisively defeated the
Philistines around 990 BCE and also conquered the three Hebrew states east of
the Jordan River and enlarged Kingdom of Israel.
Solomon
became the King after the death of King David. During the reign of King Solomon
(mid10th century), control was lost over outlying territories conquered by
David. He also built the First Temple (957 BCE), the royal palace in Jerusalem
and numerous fortified towns. Israelites were forced to submit to conscription
in royal labor gangs. People of northern Israel revolted after King Solomon's
death. Kingdom of Israel split into two states. Northern part with ten tribes
of Israel became the kingdom of Israel, and southern part with two tribes
(Judah and Benjamin) became Kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as capital.
Assyrian
king Tiglath-pileser III conquered Israel in 722 BCE which led to the partial
dispersion of the 10 northern tribes and their gradual assimilation by other
peoples (Legends thus refers to them as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel). Judah
with the two tribes of Israelites survived till 586 BCE. It was conquered by
the Babylonian King Nebuchadrezzar in 586 BCE. He destroyed the First Temple of
Jerusalem and sent the inhabitants into exile in Babylon.
Cyrus
II (c. 590-.529 BCE) of Persia conquered Babylon in 538 BCE. Cyrus II allowed
Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem. He also decreed in c. 538 BCE
to rebuild the First Temple of Jerusalem. The history of the Jews from that
time onward is predominantly the history of the tribe of Judah which also
absorbed Benjamin while in exile at Babylon.
Kings
of Persia ruled Judaea till Alexander III defeated Darius III in 330 BCE.
Probably
Persian Kings were the first to start minting coins in Judea as their use
became widespread in Persian Empire.
Judaea under Persian Rule
Cyrus II (c. 590-.529 BCE) of Persia in c. 539 BCE conquered Palestine,
Phoenicia and Syria. Cyrus II allowed Jewish exiles in Babylonia return to
Jerusalem. He also decreed in c. 538 BCE to rebuild first temple of Jerusalem.
The following list is the Kings of Persia who ruled Judaea till Alexander III
defeated Darius III in 330 BCE.
Cambyses II (529-522 BCE)
Darius I (reign 522-486 BCE),
Xerxes
(486?465 BCE),
Artaxerxes I (465?425 BCE),
Xerxes II(425?424 BCE),
Darius II Ochus (423?404 BCE)
Artaxerxes II (Reign 404-359 BCE)
Artaxerxes III (c359-338BCE)
King Arses (338?336 BC)
Darius III (c.
336-330 BCE)
Coins issued by the Persian Kings might have circulated in Judaea. The two
coins below are coins issued by Persian Kings.
Silver 1/6 Siglos.
c.450-330 BCE.
Obverse : Persian king kneeling drawing a
bow.
Reverse : Incuse punch.
Silver Siglos.
c.450-330 BCE.
Obverse : Persian king running holding a bow
and a spear.
Reverse : Incuse punch.
Judaea under Greek Rule
Alexander III
333 - 323 BCE
( From 323 -
303 BCE under Macedonian Empire )
Judea came under Alexander's rule after he defeated Persian king Darius
III in 330 BCE. Alexander III attacked and passed through Judea in c.333 BCE
on his way to Egypt. Coins were issued between 330-303 BCE in the name of
Alexander III at the mints in Tyre, Sidon, Ptolemais, Joppa, Gaza and Ake.
After Alexander's death, Judaea came under Macedonian Empire with Ptolemy I
as satrap.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT. 336-323 BCE
Silver Tetradrachm.
Obverse :
Alexander as Herakles, wearing a lion's skin
Reverse : Zeus seated holding
an eagle in his right hand, a scepter in his left hand
Ptolemies
304 - 200 BCE
Judaea with Syria and Phoenicia came under rule of Ptolemy I who was
Alexander's satrap in Egypt .
Ptolemy I declared himself King of Egypt in
304 BCE and Judaea came under Ptolemies till 200 BCE.
Silver Tetradrachm from the time of Ptolemy I. 305-290 BCE
Judaea mint
city of Tyre
Obverse : Alexander as Herakles, wearing a lion's skin
Reverse : Zeus seated holding an eagle in his right hand, a scepter in his
left hand
Seleucids
200 - 161 BCE
Seleucid King Antiochus III (223?187 BCE) defeated the army of child King of
Egypt Ptolemy V Epiphanes at Panion, in Judaea. Thus, Sinai desert and
Judaea came under Seleucid Kingdom in 200 BCE. Antiochus the Great (Antiochus
III) ruled between 223?187 BCE. Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled Judaea between
187 - 164 BCE. Maccabean revolt, led by Judas Maccabeus happened during rule of
Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Hasmonean rule started in 161 BCE.
Didrachm (1/2 shekel) from the time of Seleucid rule of Judaea.
Mint
city Tyre.
Obverse : Bust of Melqart.
Reverse : Eagle standing
Judaea under Hasmonaean Rule
Hasmonean or Hasmonaean name originated from Maccabee family ancestor Hasmoneus
or Hasmon or Asamonaios.
Mattathias Maccabeus, a jewish priest from the town
of Modein near Jerusalem rebelled against the decree by Seleucid king of Judaea
Antiochus IV Epiphanes imposing the Greek religion on the Jews. Judas Maccabeus,
son of Mattathias overthrew the Seleucid armies and became High priest and ruler
of Judaea. After his death in 160 BCE, his brother Jonathan succeeded him. He
was killed in 142 BCE and Simon his younger brother succeeded him. Antiochus VII
granted the Hasmonean high priest Simon Maccabeus the right to mint coinage.
Jewish symbols were used on these coins. These were copper coins. Simon was
assassinated in 134 BCE. John Hyrcanus I, son of Simon succeeded him as the high
priest and ruler of Judaea.
John Hyrcanus I
Bronze Prutah issued during the reign of John Hyrcanus I, c.175-104 BCE.
High priest and ruler of the Jewish nation from 134 -104 BCE.
Obverse:
Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews inside the wreath written
in Hebrew.
Reverse: Pomegranate between two cornucopia.
Aristobulus I
( Judas Aristobulus )
Judas Aristobulus is
first hellenized king of Judaea and first to take the title of King or Basileus.
He is son of Hyrcanus I. He seized the throne from his mother and killed his
siblings. Historian Josephus wrote that Aristobulus conquered the Ituraeans of
Lebanon and forcibly converted them to Judaism.
Bronze Prutah issued during the reign of Aristobulus I also called Judas
Aristobulus
High priest and ruler of the Jewish nation from 104 - 103 BCE.
Obverse: Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews inside the
wreath written in Hebrew.
Reverse: Pomegranate between two cornucopia.
Alexander Jannaeus
Alexander Jannaeus103-76 BCE was the first of the Hasmonean high priest
denote himself as king on his coins. Coins were struck with his name and title
in Greek and Hebrew.
Bronze prutah
Obverse : Anchor with a Greek legend KING ALEXANDER
Reverse : Diadem with eight-rayed star YEHONATAN THE KING between the rays
of the star in Hebrew.
Bronze Prutah.
Obverse : Lily with a legend Yehonatan the King in Hebrew.
Reverse : An anchor within a circle and inscription King Alexander in Greek.
Bronze Prutah.
Obverse : Lily with a legend Yehonatan the King in Hebrew.
Reverse : An anchor within a circle and inscription King Alexander in Greek.
John Hyrcanus II
John Hyrcanus II was the last of high priest and Hasmonean dynastic rulers of
Judaea from 76 to 40 BCE. He was was appointed high priest after his father
Alexander Jannaeus died in 76 BCE. Hyrcanus II became the ruler of Judaea after
his mother's death in 67 BCE. Aristobulus II brother of John usurped power in 67
BCE. They fought a bitter war and asked Pompey the Great to help. Pompey helped
John Hyrcanus II to regain his kingdom. He lost power again to Aulus Gabinius, a
military commander and restored to it by Julius Caesar. Mark Antony appointed
Herod and Phasael as rulers of Judaea in 42 BCE. In 40 BCE, his nephew
Mattathias Antigonus with the help of Partian invaders disfigured him by cutting
off his ears thus disqualifying him to be High priest. He was exiled to Babylon.
He later returned to Jerusalem in 36 BCE with the permission of by then King
Herod. In 30 BCE, King Herod executed him to avoid any future power struggle
with him.
Aristobulus II
Aristobulus II usurped power in 67 BCE from his brother John Hyrcanus II but
did not prevail long. Pompey the Great helped John Hyrcanus II to regain his
kingdom in 64 BCE. After an unsuccessful attempt to regain power in 56,
Aristobulus was sent to Rome as a prisoner and remained there until his death in
49 BCE.
Mattathias Antigonus
Mattathias Antigonus ruled part of Judaea between 40-37 B.C.E. Mattathias
Antigonos was son of Aristobulus II, nephew of John Hyrcanus II and
great-great-grandnephew of Judah Maccabee. Parthian king Orodes II invaded
Jerusalem and help Mattathias Antigonos win the position of High Priest. Rome
backed Herod as king of the Jews and aided him in a war against Mattathias. In
37 BCE. Mattathias was defeated and the Hasmonaean Dynasty came to an end.
Antigonus was deposed and executed by the Romans under Mark Antony. He was the
last of the Maccabees and introduced the seven-branched candlestick on the
coins.
Bronze Prutah of Mattathias Antigonus 40-37 BCE
Obverse: Double cornucopia
with a Hebrew legend around.
Reverse: Ivy wreath with a Greek legend
Bronze Prutah of Mattathias Antigonus,40-37BCE
Obverse: Double cornucopia
with Hebrew legend Mattataya the high priest and coincil of the Jews.
Reverse: Ivy wreath with ribbons with Greek legend King Antigonus.
No comments:
Post a Comment