Part One:
“… a mirror image”
by
Damien F. Mackey
“Hadrian, revisits the actions of [the]
predecessor Antiochus IV Epiphanes and
Hadrian
“a mirror image”
of
Antiochus Epiphanes
That, at least, is how Anthony R. Birley
has described the emperor Hadrian in his book, Hadrian, The Restless Emperor (p. 228):
The influence on Hadrian's thinking of the first and most
[End of quote]
On shared Epicureanism still, we also read at:
http://newepicurean.com/happy-hanukkah-to-the-sadducees/
The transformation
of Epicureanism into a competitive sect celebrating Epicurus as “savior”
increased the already existing opposition to it. Rhetorical literature falsely
accused Epicurus of materialistic hedonism. Complaints of Epicurean dogmatism,
“beguiling speech” (Col. 2:4), and compelling argumentation (of Avot 2:14
“…[know] what to answer the Epicurean”) are frequently heard. Rabbinic
condemnation reflects knowledge of Greco-Roman rhetoric, experiences with
individuals and centers (Gadara, Gaza, Caesarea), and, possibly, the favoritism shown to Epicureanism by *Antiochus
Epiphanes and *Hadrian. “Epicurean” became thus a byword for
“deviance” – ranging from disrespect to atheism – in Philo, Josephus, and
rabbinism alike (see *Apikoros).
[End of quote]
Stephen D. Moore, in The Bible in Theory: Critical and Postcritical Essays, p. 196, when
discussing the famous incident in the Maccabees of the mother and her seven martyred
sons, adds this intriguing footnote (51) according to which Antiochus was
replaced in rabbinic tradition by Hadrian:
Nameless
in 4 Maccabees, the mother is dubbed Miriam bat Tanhum, or Hannah, in the
rabbinic tradition, Solomone in the Greek Christian tradition, and Mart Simouni in the Syriac tradition (see further Darling Young 1991, 67). The
tyrant in the rabbinic versions, however, is not Antiochus Epiphanes but
Hadrian: “Hadrian came and seized upon a widow …” (S. Eliyahu Rab. 30); “In the days of the shemad [the Hadrianic persecutions]...” (Pesiq. R. 43). ....
[End
of quote]
Whilst Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164
BC, conventional dating), a Macedonian Greek, had, as we read above, “acquired
a fervent admiration for Roman ways”, Hadrian (117-138 AD, conventional dating),
supposedly a Roman emperor, was “strongly Philhellene [Greek loving]”
According to
the article, “The Temple in
Jerusalem over the threshing floor which is presently under the Al Kas fountain”,
“Hadrian [a Hitler type] … revisits … Antiochus IV Epiphanes” (http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-jerusalem-temple-mount-threshing-floor.htm):
After Titus destroyed the
Temple in 70 AD, Hadrian became Caesar in 117 - 138 AD [sic]. Hadrian, revisits
the actions of [the] predecessor Antiochus IV Epiphanes and sets
up a Temple of Jupiter on the Temple mount, ordering circumcision
to cease and expelling the Jews from Jerusalem altogether. He not only made
himself
the object of worship in this temple, but made Jerusalem the capital city
of the Roman world for the worship of Jupiter. He also built [a] temple to
Jupiter in Baalbek, Lebanon that is still standing today. Just as Hitler
deceived British Prime Minister Chamberlain in 1938 AD that there would be
"peace in our time", so too Hadrian deceived the Jews to believe that
he was peacefully rebuilding the Jewish Temple, when in fact he was
constructing the world headquarters "Temple of Jupiter". As construction
began, the Jews probably even helped in thankfulness and praise to Hadrian. But
when the Jews finally learned of Hadrian's true intent, as did England learn of
Hitler's, they rebelled and a huge war broke out in 132 AD [sic] where 85 major
Jewish towns were destroyed and 580,000 Jewish men were killed. The false
promises of peace of Hadrian and Hitler both resulted in major holocausts
against the Jews. Israel came to the promised land with about 600,000 men and
they were finally expelled from the land by having about 600,000 men killed by
Hadrian. The Temple of Jupiter was completed on the temple mount in 135 AD [sic]
and was the most important (Jupiter Capitolinus) "Temple to Jupiter"
in the world. While the Jews of Hadrian's time may have been looking for the story
of 2 Maccabees conclude with a similar victory for the Jews, Hadrian was likely
reminded of the same 2 Macc. text to make sure the ending was different. ….
And again:
Dan 9:27; 11:31; Matt 24:15;
Luke 21:20 are specific prophecies that the "abomination of desolation
that will make sacrifice cease" in the Jewish temple which was fully
fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. But there were two other
shadow or anti-typical fulfillments of these same prophecies. One was in 167 BC
with Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the other was in 117 AD with the rise of
Hadrian to power. Whereas Antiochus merely offered sacrifices to Jupiter in the
Jewish Temple, Hadrian built the largest temples of Jupiter in the world in
place of the Jewish temple. ….
[End of quote]
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Hadrian
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