Antisemitism in the Pagan World

Abstract: This article explores the ancient testimony that has often been understood to indicate pagan antisemitism among Greeks and Romans in antiquity. It seeks to challenge the common notions that hostility to Jews arose on religious or ideological grounds or that it was rooted in suspicion of, or contempt for, the outsider or that it represented fear of Jewish proselytizing that might threaten pagan institutions. The article seeks to show that the negative comments about Jews found in Greek and Roman writings amount to scorn and derision or simply amused misgivings, but little (if any) antisemitism. And the episodes of state or private actions against Jews were very rare and stemmed from exceptional circumstances.