The Essenes in Greek sources: some reflections

This is a subject that I approach with some trepidation, aware as I am that there is a long history of controversy on the interpretation of the Greek sources for the Essene sect, especially the evidence of Philo and Josephus, and in particular the relevance of their evidence to what we know of the Qumran community, and, despite a long-standing interest in Philo, I cannot claim to be an expert in this field.1