ABSTRACT
Josephus informs us (Cont. Ap. I. 183) that Hecataeus of Abdera was a Greek philosopher who lived in the days of Alexander the Great and Ptolemy I (Soter) son of Lagus (c.367/6-283/2 BC), and goes to some lengths to demonstrate that such is the case (Cont. Ap. I. 184-185). Certainly this Hecataeus wrote a book on the history of Egypt, incorporating references to the Jews, which Diodorus Siculus (died c.20 BC) used as a source for his historical writings (XL. 3). Josephus (Cont. Ap. I. 183) does not refer to his Egyptian History, but states rather that Hecataeus wrote another book specifically about the Jews. From the latter he quotes substantial portions (Cont. Ap. I. 185-204), including a description of Jerusalem, the Temple, observations on its cult, and a note on the priests. It is these sections alone as preserved in Cont. Ap. I. 187, 197-199, which are here under consideration. Other material attributed to Hecataeus falls outside the scope of this study.
