Philo of Alexandria: An Intellectual BiographyPhilo was a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher who left behind one of the richest bodies of work from antiquity, yet his personality and intellectual development have remained a riddle. Maren Niehoff presents the first biography of Philo, arguing that his trip to Rome in 38 CE was a turning point in his life. There he was exposed not only to new political circumstances but also to a new cultural and philosophical environment. Following the pogrom in Alexandria, Philo became active as the head of the Jewish embassy to Emperor Gaius and as an intellectual in the capital of the empire, responding to the challenges of his time and creatively reconstructing his identity, though always maintaining pride in the Jewish tradition. Philo’s trajectory from Alexandria to Rome and his enthusiastic adoption of new modes of thought made him a key figure in the complex negotiation between East and West. |
Contents
3 | |
25 | |
Power Exile and Religion in the Roman Empire | 47 |
Roman Philosophy and the Jews | 69 |
Creation Theology and Monotheism | 93 |
Character and History in the Lives of the Biblical | 109 |
Biblical Ladies in Roman Garb | 131 |
Stoic Ethics in the Service of Jewish Law | 149 |
Biblical Commentary | 173 |
A Platonic Self | 192 |
An Utterly Transcendent God and His Logos | 209 |
Rejected Subverted and Advocated | 225 |
Philo at the Crossroads of Judaism Hellenism | 242 |
Bibliography | 281 |
311 | |
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Abraham According addresses Alexandria Allegorical Commentary already appeal appreciated approach argues assumes attention audience become biblical biography chapter Christian Claudius concerned connected contemporary context contrast created creation criticism culture Decalogue describes discourses discussion divine early embassy emerges emperor Empire engages ethics example exile explains Exposition expresses fact Gaius God’s Greek highly historical human ideal ideas identified important intellectual interest interpretation introduces Jewish Jews Josephus Judaism known later Lives Logos material meaning mentions mind moreover Moses namely nature notion offers passions Philo philosophical Plato’s Platonic plays Plutarch political position presents provides question rational readers reading realm reference religion religious role Roman Rome says Second Seneca sense shows significant similar soul speaks Stoic story stresses suggests Temple theology things tion tradition transcendent treatise turn universal values virtue women writings