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7 - Zion Nationalism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 July 2009

David Goodblatt
Affiliation:
University of California, San Diego
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Summary

The use of the name “israel” by the rebels of 66 and 132 is understandable in the light of ancient Hebrew literature and the precedent of the pre-exilic Kingdom of Israel. The use of the name “Judah” (or its Greek and Latin equivalents) by the Hasmonean and Herodian rulers also had biblical warrant and the precedents of the Kingdom of Judah and the Persian, Ptolemaic, and (presumably) Seleucid provinces of Judah. In this chapter we look at another name that may have served to denote or invoke ancient Jewish nationalism. This is the name “Zion.” The evidence is limited, but – especially in view of modern history – tantalizing. The first clue comes from the bronze coins of the first revolt. As noted earlier, one side of these coins bears dates of year two through year four. Some of the year four issues also bear denominations of “half” or “quarter” on the same side that has the date. For all three years of issue the opposite side of the bronze coins has a legend mentioning “Zion.” In years two and three the inscription is “freedom of Zion.” In year four it is “for/of the redemption of Zion.” The mention of Zion is both unprecedented and unparalleled in ancient Jewish numismatics. The name did not appear on Persian, Ptolemaic, or Hasmonean era issues, nor was it used later on the coins of the revolt of 132–5.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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  • Zion Nationalism
  • David Goodblatt , University of California, San Diego
  • Book: Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism
  • Online publication: 20 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511499067.008
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  • Zion Nationalism
  • David Goodblatt , University of California, San Diego
  • Book: Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism
  • Online publication: 20 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511499067.008
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Zion Nationalism
  • David Goodblatt , University of California, San Diego
  • Book: Elements of Ancient Jewish Nationalism
  • Online publication: 20 July 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511499067.008
Available formats
×