300 - 200 BCE
Hellenistic II
Ptolemy and Eleazer, the Jewish high priest in Jerusalem, Septuagint, Synagogues in Egypt
During the Ptolemaic era that lasted approximately from 300 - 200 BCE, Judea was ruled from Egypt. Jews enjoyed relative autonomy evident by the building of synagogues across Egypt during that time. Being the main vernacular, Jews spoke Greek which also expanded into their prayer liturgy.
This, together with the Greeks curiosity in the Jewish adherence to the Torah and a monotheistic belief in one G-d vastly differing from their own polytheistic belief in a pantheon of gods championed by Zeus, led to the famous translation of the Five Books of Moses into Greek, called the Septuagint.
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