The sacred grove of Scythopolis (Flavius Josephus, Bellum Iudaicum II 466-471)

Abstract

In his account of the numerous massacres of J ews which occurred in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of war against Rome, Josephus includes in his Jewish War (11466-471) a curious passage concerning the city of Scythopolis: So far the Jews had be en attacking foreigners, but when they raided Scythopolis they found the Jews there opposed to them; for they lined up with the Scythopolitans, ... So they ordered them, ifthey wished to prove their loyalty and demonstrate their fidelity to their foreign neighbours, to go with their families into the Grove. The Jews carried out the order, suspecting nothing, and for two days the Scythopolitans made no move, thus deceiving them into thinking themselves safe; but on the third night they watched their opportunity when some were off their guard and others asleep, slaughtered them all - more than 13,000 of them - and looted the property of the whole colony. This was one of the most prominent Hellenic enclaves in Palestine, and during the Maccabean revolt it was considered to be a gentile city (2 Macc. 12,29-31)