Paralia | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eparchy of Coele-Syria province of the Seleucid Kingdom | |||||||||
197 BCE–99 BCE | |||||||||
Historical era | Hellenistic era | ||||||||
• Seleucid annexation | 197 BCE | ||||||||
•
Simon Thassi captured
Jaffa | 143 BCE | ||||||||
125 BCE | |||||||||
• Conquests of
Alexander Jannaeus | 103-99 BCE | ||||||||
•
Hasmonean dynasty conquest | 99 BCE | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Today part of |
Israel Gaza Strip |
The Paralia ( Greek: Παραλία - beach), also known as Medinat HaYam ( Hebrew: מדינת הים - country by the sea) was a coastal eparchy in Palestine during Hellenistic and Roman times, [1] ruled by the Seleucid Empire between 197 and 99 BCE, as part of the Coele-Syria province. According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers. [2] The name appears in the 6th-century Madaba Map, appended to the town of Ashdod-Yam, as Azotos Paralos ( Greek: Αζωτος Παραλος), ca. 3 kilometers south of Modern Ashdod.
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids, [3] along with the eparchies of Idumea and Galaaditis and neighbouring the eparchy of Samaria. Josephus wrote that the Paralia was outside Jewish jurisdiction throughout the Second Temple Period, except for a short period under the Hasmoneans and during the reign of Herod the Great and the Agrippas. [4]
The region was described as the Coastal Country in 1 Maccabees ( 11:59; 15:38) and 2 Maccabees ( 13:24). [5]
In earlier Halakha it was described at "Medinat HaYam" (cities of the sea). [6]
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids. [3] The eparchy bordered Samaria, Idumea and Galaaditis, all part of the Coele-Syria province. Nicanor son of Patroclus was likely one of the governors of Paralia district, and was titled Cypriarch - apparently commanding some Cypriot garrison troops in the region, when Antiochus V Eupator acceded to the throne. [7]
Part of the Paralia region was first conquered by Jews under the Hasmoneans. [4] Simon Thassi captured Joppa in 143 BCE, John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod in 125 BCE, and between 103-99 BCE Alexander Jannaeus conquered the areas from Dora, northwards to Acra, and from Gaza, southwards to Rinocorura. [4] The first penetration of Hasmoneans to Joppa was gradual - first a garrison was set up in the city, with later replacement of the pagan population by incoming Jews. [5] Only Ashkelon was never conquered by the Hasmoneans. [4]
According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers. [2]
Paralia | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eparchy of Coele-Syria province of the Seleucid Kingdom | |||||||||
197 BCE–99 BCE | |||||||||
Historical era | Hellenistic era | ||||||||
• Seleucid annexation | 197 BCE | ||||||||
•
Simon Thassi captured
Jaffa | 143 BCE | ||||||||
125 BCE | |||||||||
• Conquests of
Alexander Jannaeus | 103-99 BCE | ||||||||
•
Hasmonean dynasty conquest | 99 BCE | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Today part of |
Israel Gaza Strip |
The Paralia ( Greek: Παραλία - beach), also known as Medinat HaYam ( Hebrew: מדינת הים - country by the sea) was a coastal eparchy in Palestine during Hellenistic and Roman times, [1] ruled by the Seleucid Empire between 197 and 99 BCE, as part of the Coele-Syria province. According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers. [2] The name appears in the 6th-century Madaba Map, appended to the town of Ashdod-Yam, as Azotos Paralos ( Greek: Αζωτος Παραλος), ca. 3 kilometers south of Modern Ashdod.
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids, [3] along with the eparchies of Idumea and Galaaditis and neighbouring the eparchy of Samaria. Josephus wrote that the Paralia was outside Jewish jurisdiction throughout the Second Temple Period, except for a short period under the Hasmoneans and during the reign of Herod the Great and the Agrippas. [4]
The region was described as the Coastal Country in 1 Maccabees ( 11:59; 15:38) and 2 Maccabees ( 13:24). [5]
In earlier Halakha it was described at "Medinat HaYam" (cities of the sea). [6]
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids. [3] The eparchy bordered Samaria, Idumea and Galaaditis, all part of the Coele-Syria province. Nicanor son of Patroclus was likely one of the governors of Paralia district, and was titled Cypriarch - apparently commanding some Cypriot garrison troops in the region, when Antiochus V Eupator acceded to the throne. [7]
Part of the Paralia region was first conquered by Jews under the Hasmoneans. [4] Simon Thassi captured Joppa in 143 BCE, John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod in 125 BCE, and between 103-99 BCE Alexander Jannaeus conquered the areas from Dora, northwards to Acra, and from Gaza, southwards to Rinocorura. [4] The first penetration of Hasmoneans to Joppa was gradual - first a garrison was set up in the city, with later replacement of the pagan population by incoming Jews. [5] Only Ashkelon was never conquered by the Hasmoneans. [4]
According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers. [2]