Where Is The Temple Site Of Onias IV In Egypt?

Abstract

One of the most important historical sites in Egypt for students of Judaism in the Hellenistic and Roman periods would be the temple site of Onias IV. This chapter proposes that Onias IV was defeated in Jerusalem in the power struggle over the legitimacy of high priesthood and as a result fled to Egypt. It suggests that Josephus himself visited the temple of Onias IV when he was temporarily staying in Alexandria on his way back to Jerusalem from Rome in the year 66 CE. The chapter argues against W. M. Flinders Petries identification, and puts forward the suggestion that the place named Bubastis is the site of Onias IVs temple. It refers to past excavations of Bubastis by Edouard Naville and Labib Habachi. Finally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of excavations in the site of Onias IVs temple. Keywords: Bubastis; Egypt; Hellenistic period; Jerusalem; Onias IVs temple; Roman period; W. M. Flinders Petrie