The Phenomenon of Antisemitism in the Ancient World – Lecture by Professor Corrado Martone

On Thursday, March 19, following an introduction by Marco Rolando, President of the Jewish-Christian Friendship Association, a lecture was given by Professor Corrado Martone of the University of Turin and Professor Liliana Rosso Ubigli of the University of Turin. A summary of the event follows in the article.

The term “anti-Semitism” was coined in the 19th century to provide a scientific framework for anti-Semitism. However, examples that can be classified as anti-Semitic date back to ancient times.
An early episode is recounted in the Book of Esther, which, as we know, recounts the command to persecute and exterminate the Jewish people. The episode, while interesting, has no clear date; it therefore appears more like a metaphor for a political power taking action against the Jewish people than a true historical document.
In the Elephantine Papyrus, a group of Jews, likely a colony of mercenaries, recounts being attacked by local natives. This is likely the oldest example of a precisely dated anti-Semitic attack (407 BCE). It already contains other elements that would occur even later, such as the spread of lies that escalated into a violent attack.
We still remember the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, successor to Alexander the Great, who implemented a brutal repression against the Jews, preventing them from observing fundamental rules of Jewish life. This situation led to a revolt. From this story, the festival of Chanukah was born.
Anti-Jewish literature spread in which the Jew was isolated, with motivations that grew out of themselves until they transformed into wild accusations.
Under Roman rule, there is no trace of any anti-Jewish commitment, although the problem of emperor worship already arose.
There are reports of anti-Jewish riots in Alexandria, Egypt, in 38 BCE, which Emperor Claudius managed to quell by advising the Alexandrians not to bring Jews from abroad, so as not to spread a common disease.
The mystery of the Holy of Holies inspired the wildest lies, and any pretext was used against the Jews.
In his Histories, Tacitus speaks of the power and wickedness of the Jews.
This leads to Christian anti-Judaism.
The anti-Judaism of the Gospels initially appears as a polemic within the Jewish world, subsequently passed down and enriched.
This culminates in the accusation of deicide. Christian commentaries begin to appear that conceal the idea of ​​Christianity as a replacement for Judaism. Even the iconography presents anti-Judaic elements similar to those that would emerge in later eras (humps, claws, hooked noses, etc.).
The idea circulates that the correct response of Jews to Christians would be conversion.
The initial controversies between Jews and early Christians, which were actually internal controversies within the Jewish world, not contextualized, transformed over time into weapons against the Jews.
What is striking in this excursus is how early in history ideas characteristic of anti-Semitism emerged, ideas that have recurred throughout history and in the most diverse contexts.