DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4680#0338
1. THE JEWS IN A PAM EI A. 669
them in the strongholds, granting them lands and guaranteeing them
his favour in every way1.
The fact that the Jewish Katoilcoi were encouraged and favoured
by the Seleucid kings proves that they maintained the interests of the
dominant party against the native population2. Thus they were an
aristocratic faction in the Phrygian cities; and, though the Perga-
menian policy differed, yet the Jews are not likely to have lost the
position which they had gained. In the Roman period their success
in so many suits before Roman officials, when their privileges were
attacked, is a proof of their wealth and power ; for under the Republic
they who could bribe highest were always successful. Especially the
favour of Dolabella 3 was a mere matter of purchase.
In a.d. 70, they lost their separate and peculiar position before
Roman law. Advantage was taken of this by the cities of Antioch
and Alexandria, which sought to deprive them also of citizenship ; but
Vespasian and Titus confirmed their rights as citizens. The action of
these two cities formed a test case; and, if it had gone against the
Jews, they would obviously have lost their citizenship in all similar
cities. But it would appear from no. 399 bis, that they not merely
retained their equality in citizenship at Apameia, but also some (prob-
ably almost all) of the peculiar privileges which they enjoyed beyond
other citizens. These privileges were inseparable from their religion ;
and-, as their religion was made legitimate (on the payment of a poll-
tax), the privileges connected with it were recognized. Only the tax
which they formerly sent to Jerusalem (safe transmission of which was
guaranteed by many enactments) was now turned into a Roman tax.
It is very probable that the Jews would have a separate cemetery
at Apameia; but the dearth of Jewish epitaphs is remarkable. Only
one is known, no. 399 bis. But the Phrygian Jews seem to have aban-
doned entirely the use of the Hebrew language and names4; and it is
impossible to identify them from their names alone. The language and
tone of no. 315, 385, 394, suggests that they are Jewish or Jewish-
Christian.
§ 2. The Legend of the Flood 'in Apameia. On Apamean
coins struck under Severus, Macrinus, and Philip, there appears (with
slight variations in details) the same type of ' a chest or ark (/c(/3o)ro?)
1 See the whole letter of Antioehus, 2 On the Seleucid policy see pp. 260,
Josephua Ant. XII § 148 ff, which was 420.
doubtless preserved as a charter by the 3 Josephus Ant. XIV 10, 9 ff (§ 217 ff).
Jews. He mentions the strong liking of 4 Unless they retained Hebrew names
his predecessors for the Jewish settlers. in esoteric private use.
them in the strongholds, granting them lands and guaranteeing them
his favour in every way1.
The fact that the Jewish Katoilcoi were encouraged and favoured
by the Seleucid kings proves that they maintained the interests of the
dominant party against the native population2. Thus they were an
aristocratic faction in the Phrygian cities; and, though the Perga-
menian policy differed, yet the Jews are not likely to have lost the
position which they had gained. In the Roman period their success
in so many suits before Roman officials, when their privileges were
attacked, is a proof of their wealth and power ; for under the Republic
they who could bribe highest were always successful. Especially the
favour of Dolabella 3 was a mere matter of purchase.
In a.d. 70, they lost their separate and peculiar position before
Roman law. Advantage was taken of this by the cities of Antioch
and Alexandria, which sought to deprive them also of citizenship ; but
Vespasian and Titus confirmed their rights as citizens. The action of
these two cities formed a test case; and, if it had gone against the
Jews, they would obviously have lost their citizenship in all similar
cities. But it would appear from no. 399 bis, that they not merely
retained their equality in citizenship at Apameia, but also some (prob-
ably almost all) of the peculiar privileges which they enjoyed beyond
other citizens. These privileges were inseparable from their religion ;
and-, as their religion was made legitimate (on the payment of a poll-
tax), the privileges connected with it were recognized. Only the tax
which they formerly sent to Jerusalem (safe transmission of which was
guaranteed by many enactments) was now turned into a Roman tax.
It is very probable that the Jews would have a separate cemetery
at Apameia; but the dearth of Jewish epitaphs is remarkable. Only
one is known, no. 399 bis. But the Phrygian Jews seem to have aban-
doned entirely the use of the Hebrew language and names4; and it is
impossible to identify them from their names alone. The language and
tone of no. 315, 385, 394, suggests that they are Jewish or Jewish-
Christian.
§ 2. The Legend of the Flood 'in Apameia. On Apamean
coins struck under Severus, Macrinus, and Philip, there appears (with
slight variations in details) the same type of ' a chest or ark (/c(/3o)ro?)
1 See the whole letter of Antioehus, 2 On the Seleucid policy see pp. 260,
Josephua Ant. XII § 148 ff, which was 420.
doubtless preserved as a charter by the 3 Josephus Ant. XIV 10, 9 ff (§ 217 ff).
Jews. He mentions the strong liking of 4 Unless they retained Hebrew names
his predecessors for the Jewish settlers. in esoteric private use.