The Land of the Body: Studies in Philo's Representation of Egypt (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament)

This book presents the first extended study of the representation of Egypt in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. Philo is a crucial witness, not only to the experiences of the Jews of Alexandria, but to the world of early Roman Egypt in general. As historians of Roman Alexandria and Egypt are well aware, we have access to very few voices from inside the country in this era; Philo is the best we have. As a commentator on Jewish Scripture, Philo is also one of the most valuable sources for the interpretation of Egypt in the Pentateuch. He not only writes very extensively on this subject, but he does so in ways that are remarkable for their originality when compared with the surviving literature of ancient Judaism. In this book, Sarah Pearce tries to understand Philo in relation to the wider context in which he lived and worked. Key areas for investigation include: defining the 'Egyptian' in Philo's world; Philo's treatment of the Egypt of the Pentateuch as a symbol of 'the land of the body'; Philo's emphasis on Egyptian inhospitableness; and his treatment of Egyptian religion, focusing on Nile veneration and animal worship. Cover Dedication Acknowledgements Table of Contents Abbreviations Editions and Translations Introduction I. Previous Scholarship II. Approach of this Study Chapter 1: Philo’s Contexts I. Historical Context Introduction Philo’s Personal Context Philo’s Jewish Context Philo’s Alexandria Philo’s Jerusalem II. Intellectual Contexts Introduction Philo’s Writings Philo’s Readers Philo as Interpreter of Scripture Philo and the Greek Pentateuch Philo as Allegorist Migration and Allegory Literal Interpretation Philo’s Jewish Tradition Hebrew Etymologies Jewish Literature of the Hellenistic Period Promoting and Defending Judaism Chapter 2: Egyptians in Philo’s World I. Introduction II. Defining the Egyptian Status Definitions Cultural Distinctions Roman Definitions Snobbish Contempt for Egyptians Egyptians in Roman Literature III. Egyptians in Philo’s In Flaccum and Legatio ad Gaium Introduction In Flaccum Egyptians of the χώρα Egyptians and Corporal Punishment: the Alexandrian Custom The Egyptian (τό Aỉγυπτιαхόν) Egyptian Disorder Egyptian Envy Legatio ad Gaium Introduction Attacks on the Prayer-Houses of Alexandria Recycled (Im)piety: the Alexandrians’ Impious Innovation The Alexandrians’ Deception of Gaius Egyptian Atheism: the Language of Deceit Egyptians in Rome Summary Chapter 3: Egypt, Land of the Body I. Introduction II. The Wider Context The Etymological Interpretation of ‘Egypt’ Philo on the Body Egypt as Symbol Apposition and Substitution Earlier Traditions Egypt on the Pentateuch’s Map of Migration Other Maps of Migration: the Iliad and the Odyssey Other Symbols of the Body Philo on Migration from the Body Summary III. Egypt and Migration away from the Body Abraham The Promised Land: ‘from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates’ (Gen. 15.18) Philo on Gen. 15.18 Egypt as Bodily Passions and the Mortal Egypt as the Bodily and External Goods The River of Egypt as the Body and its Evils Isaac No Entry into Egypt (Gen. 26.2–3) Jacob Introduction Jacob knows the Dangers of Life in the Land of the Body Jacob’s Descent into Egypt Egypt as Hades Jacob’s Fear: Egypt and the Deification of the Created Joseph Joseph in De Migratione Abrahami Joseph’s Bones Joseph as a Figure of Freedom from the Land of the Body Joseph in Prison Joseph’s Knowledge of God Joseph dismisses the Egyptian Court Joseph’s Brothers in Egypt Joseph as Ruler of the Bodily Land Exodus The title 'Eξαγωγή Oppression in Egypt as Subjection to the Flesh and the Passions Israel’s Groaning in Egypt The ‘Abominations of Egypt’ Passover Passover as ‘Crossing (διάβασις)' The Mother of every Disorder Beyond the Exodus IV. Summary Chapter 4: Egyptians as Symbols I. Introduction: Egyptian Characteristics The Egyptian Failure to ‘see God’ II. The Pharaohs Abram and Pharaoh Joseph and Pharaoh Another King (Exod. 1.8–2.23) The Pharaoh of the Exodus (Exod. 3.10–15.21) Philo’s Pharaohs Introduction Pharaoh ‘the Scatterer’ Exod. 32.25 and the Origins of Pharaoh ‘the Scatterer’ Pharaoh as Typhonic Figure? Pharaoh, the Enemy of God The Self-Lover (φíλαυτος)' ‘The Over-Proud Mind The Atheist Moses as ‘god to Pharaoh’ (Exod. 6.28–7.2) III. The Egyptian Overseer Introduction Philo on the Killing of the Egyptian IV. Egyptian Sophists Introduction Philo and the Egyptian Sophists V. Hagar the Egyptian Introduction Philo’s Hagar: Symbol of the Encyclia The Value of the Encyclia Hagar the Egyptian and the Bodily Value of the Encyclia Hagar in the Exposition VI. Summary Chapter 5: Wicked Hosts and Perfect Guests Introduction Philo’s Intended Readers Hospitality: the Greek Tradition Inhospitable Egyptians Jews as Inhospitable? Hospitality in Jewish Tradition Abraham in Egypt Joseph in Egypt Moses in Egypt Philo on the Law of Moses and the Duty of Hospitality De Virtutibus Summary Chapter 6: Egyptian Atheism: Philo on the Nile Introduction The Veneration of the Nile in Philo’s Egypt Philo on Egyptian Veneration of the Nile The Nile in De Vita Mosis Atheism De Fuga 180: the ‘Egyptian Trope’ as Atheist The Half-Egyptian Blasphemer De Posteritate Caini 1–4 Legatio ad Gaium 163: Alexandrians and ‘the Egyptian Atheism’ The Blasphemer and Egyptian Atheism Summary Chapter 7: Animal Worship in Philo’s World I. Introduction Animal Worship in Egypt II. The Outsider View: Greek and Roman Views of Egyptian Animal Veneration Herodotus Diodorus of Sicily Strabo of Amasia Satire and the Poetry of Contempt Philosophers Plutarch of Chaeronea III. Jewish Tradition The Pentateuch and the Prophets Judaism and Egyptian Religion: the Negative Tradition Jewish Tradition after Philo Josephus and Manetho Josephus and Apion Judaism and Egyptian Religion: Positive Traditions? Chapter 8: Philo on Egyptian Animal Worship I. Introduction Philo’s View of Animals II. Philo on Egyptian Animal Worship De Vita Contemplativa (On the Contemplative Life) De Decalogo (On the Decalogue) The Worship of the Golden Calf The Allegorical Commentary The Soul Honours the Body as Gold: Sacr. 130 The Soul’s Assault on the Body: Fuga 90 Θεοπλαστέω: the ‘Deification’ of Created Things The Deification of the Body: Ebr. 95–96 The Destruction of the Pleasures of the Body: Post. 158–169 De Vita Mosis De Specialibus Legibus I.79 Other Jewish Traditions A Contemporary Angle? Summary Bibliography Principal Editions of Philo’s Works Modern Scholarly Literature Index Passages Modern Authors Subjects HauptbeschreibungThis book presents the first extended study of the representation of Egypt in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. Philo is a crucial witness, not only to the experiences of the Jews of Alexandria, but to the world of early Roman Egypt in general. As historians of Roman Alexandria and Egypt are well aware, we have access to very few voices from inside the country in this era; Philo is the best we have. As a commentator on Jewish Scripture, Philo is also one of the most valuable sources for the interpretation of Egypt in the Pentateuch. He not only writes very extensively on t Hauptbeschreibung This book presents the first extended study of the representation of Egypt in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. Philo is a crucial witness, not only to the experiences of the Jews of Alexandria, but to the world of early Roman Egypt in general. As historians of Roman Alexandria and Egypt are well aware, we have access to very few voices from inside the country in this era; Philo is the best we have. As a commentator on Jewish Scripture, Philo is also one of the most valuable sources for the interpretation of Egypt in the Pentateuch. He not only writes very exte Philo's Contexts -- Egyptians In Philo's World -- Egypt, Land Of The Body -- Egyptians As Symbols -- Wicked Hosts And Perfect Guests -- Egyptian Atheism : Philo On The Nile -- Animal Worship In Philo's World -- Philo On Egyptian Animal Worship. Sarah J.k. Pearce. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [309]-328), And Indexes.