The Paralia (Greek: Παραλία - beach), also known as Medinat HaYam (Hebrew: מדינת הים - country by the sea) was a coastal eparchy in Palestine during Hellenistic and Roman times,[1] ruled by the Seleucid Empire between 197 and 99 BCE, as part of the Coele-Syria province. According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers.[2] The name appears in the 6th-century Madaba Map, appended to the town of Ashdod-Yam, as Azotos Paralos (Greek: Αζωτος Παραλος), ca. 3 kilometers south of Modern Ashdod.
| Paralia | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eparchy of Coele-Syria province of the Seleucid Kingdom | |||||||||
| 197 BCE–99 BCE | |||||||||
| Historical era | Hellenistic era | ||||||||
• Seleucid annexation | 197 BCE | ||||||||
• Simon Thassi captured Jaffa | 143 BCE | ||||||||
| 125 BCE | |||||||||
• Conquests of Alexander Jannaeus | 103-99 BCE | ||||||||
• Hasmonean dynasty conquest | 99 BCE | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of |  Israel Gaza Strip | ||||||||
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids,[3] along with the eparchies of Idumea and Galaaditis and neighbouring the eparchy of Samaria. Josephus wrote that the Paralia was outside Jewish jurisdiction throughout the Second Temple Period, except for a short period under the Hasmoneans and during the reign of Herod the Great and the Agrippas.[4]
Etymology
editThe region was described as the Coastal Country in 1 Maccabees (11:59; 15:38) and 2 Maccabees (13:24).[5]
In earlier Halakha it was described at "Medinat HaYam" (cities of the sea).[6]
History
editThe region was originally set up by the Seleucids.[3] The eparchy bordered Samaria, Idumea and Galaaditis, all part of the Coele-Syria province. Nicanor son of Patroclus was likely one of the governors of Paralia district, and was titled Cypriarch - apparently commanding some Cypriot garrison troops in the region, when Antiochus V Eupator acceded to the throne.[7]
Part of the Paralia region was first conquered by Jews under the Hasmoneans.[4] Simon Thassi captured Joppa in 143 BCE, John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod in 125 BCE, and between 103-99 BCE Alexander Jannaeus conquered the areas from Dora, northwards to Acra, and from Gaza, southwards to Rinocorura.[4] The first penetration of Hasmoneans to Joppa was gradual - first a garrison was set up in the city, with later replacement of the pagan population by incoming Jews.[5] Only Ashkelon was never conquered by the Hasmoneans.[4]
Demographics
editAccording to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers.[2]
See also
edit
Footnotes
edit- ^ The Myth of a Gentile Galilee, Mark A. Chancey, p.36
- ^ a b Rosenfeld 2000, p. 168.
- ^ a b Rosenfeld 2000, p. 143.
- ^ a b c d Rosenfeld 2000, p. 146.
- ^ a b The Apocrypha, edited by Martin Goodman, John Barton, John Muddiman, p.154
- ^ Social Life and Social Values of the Jewish People, Haim Hillel Ben-Sasson, Samuel Ettinger, 1968, p.70
- ^ B. Bar-Kochva. Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Struggle Against the Seleucids. Cambridge University Press. p239.
Sources
edit- Rosenfeld, Ben-Zion (2000), "Flavius Josephus and His Portrayal of the Coast (Paralia) of Contemporary Roman Palestine: Geography and Ideology", The Jewish Quarterly Review, 91 (1), University of Pennsylvania Press: 143–183, doi:10.2307/1454789, JSTOR 1454789