Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.3, 2013

 

Jewish Political and Religious Characteristics during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods: With a Focus on Ancient Jewish Coins                                 

(Abstract)

 

Song Lihong

 

Ancient Jewish coins represent an important source for the study of Jewish political and religious life during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The Jewish tradition of coinage was initiated by the Hasmonean dynasty. Inscriptions on the coins were in Hebrew or both Hebrew and Greek, showing important features of Hellenistic monarchies alongside a distinctive Jewish character. But this practice of integrating foreign culture with domestic tradition ended during the period of the two uprisings under Roman rule, when the coins issued had only Hebrew inscriptions, emphasizing Jewish tradition. The coins minted by the Herodian dynasty had only Greek inscriptions, indicating that the dynasty's power came from Rome and could be taken back at any time. The most distinctive feature of ancient Jewish coins is that, on the basis of absorbing and transforming a wide range of other cultures, they throw into relief the biblical tradition; however, the continuity of this tradition shows the human factor.