Edward Dąbrowa, born in Miłków, Poland, in 1949. Ph.D. from the Jagiellonian University, Cracow. Professor of Ancient History at the Jagiellonian University, Cracow.
Fellow (1 September 2006 – 30 June 2007)
THE HASMONEANS AND THEIR STATE: A STUDY IN HISTORY, IDEOLOGY, AND THE INSTITUTIONS
The original aim of my project was research on the nature of the Hasmonean kingship. A starting point for this topic was to explore the ways in which the Hellenistic culture and patterns of Hellenistic kingship made an impact on the Hasmonean concept of kingship. This problem I considered pivotal in my research. It derives its connection from the internal troubles characteristic for the Hasmonean Judea based on religious controversies between the rulers and different religious groups. The final conclusions indicate that the Hasmonean kingship had its essential elements appropriate to the Hellenistic kingship, but only in political aspects. In all the other, construction of the Hasmonean State based on patterns characteristic for Jewish tradition. Implementation of the Hellenistic model of the monarchy in Judea offered the Hasmoneans a powerful position against strong traditional religious and social elites