Browsing by Author "Rabie, Letitia"

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    Kleopatra VII in Egipte en Salome Aleksandra in Palestina : n kultuur-antropologiese studie van twee vroue uit die Hellenistiese tydvlak
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1998) Rabie, Letitia; Cook, Johann; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Hellenistic age is regarded as one of the most important periods in world history. It commenced in 330 B.C. with Alexander the Great's successful expeditions to the countries of the ANE. After his death in 323 B.C., the Empire which he founded was subdivided between his successors, the Diadochi. The western part of the Empire went to Lysimachus and Cassander, and the eastern part to Seleucus. Egypt went to Ptolemy, who promptly annexed Palestine. With this move Ptolemy gained control of the eastern trade and caravan routes. These territories remained under Hellenistic rule for ±300 years until they became Roman Provinces towards the end of the first century B.C. As a result of the eastward expansion of Greece, the inhabitants of the ANE were exposed to Hellenistic influence. They came into close contact with the Greek way of life, thought and culture as well as the military expertise of their conquerors. The meeting which took place between the cultures of the East and the West resulted in a new phenomenon, namely Hellenism. This new culture had a profound impact on the development of the economy, religion and culture of Egypt and Palestine. The impact of Hellenism brought about significant changes in practically all facets of the people's lives in those two countries, which were dominated by the Hellenists. The changes were profound and became the basis of our Western civilization, especially in fhe fields of science, religion and culture. Certain modern historians differ from the traditional view emphasizing the cultural influence that Hellenism had on the peoples of the ANE and that the Greeks spread their culture to the countries of the ANE intentionally. They are of the opinion that Hellenism is badly misrepresented by traditional historians, who have been biased and one sided in their research. They claim that newly discovered papyri and artifacts enable them to take a holistic view of this very important period and accordingly their views differ from those of the traditionally accepted views of Hellenism. They are of the opinion that the traditional view was designed as moral justification for what was, in essence, a largescale economic and imperial exploitation of the countries of the ANE. · Cleopatra VII was the last Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt. She reigned for 19 years, from 51 B.C. until her death in 30 B.C., when the Romans took possession of Egypt. Salome Alexandra was the last Hasmonian Queen. She ruled her country for 9 years until her death in 67 B.C. Both queens had to cope with internal conflicts between certain factions as well as with international pressure, which they dealt with in an exemplary fashion. Both were exceptional and remarkable women who ruled their countries with insight, wisdom and diplomacy. They are badly misrepresented in literature as a result of their opponents' malicious propaganda. Cleopatra is remembered as the immoral and seductive eastern queen who beguiled the two most famous and powerful Roman generals, while Salome Alexandra is regarded as the lackey of the Pharisees. The resemblance of the Hellenistic world to our own world is overwhelming. In the modern world socio-economic circumstances, religious groupings, political manoeuvring, dissatisfaction, strikes and violence, bear a remarkable resemblance to similar situations in the Hellenistic period, especially in South Africa, where the transitional phase is causing fundamental changes and adjustments which bear interesting similarities to the impact of Hellenism in antiquity.