The Letter from Antiochus III to Zeuxis (Jos. AJ 12.147-153) and Its Historical Context

Abstract

<p>This thesis sets forth to prove that the letter from Antiochus III to Zeuxis preserved by Josephus (<em>AJ</em> 12.147-153) is authentic. The authenticity of the letter has been the subject of much scholarly debate, all of it focussed on the style and vocabulary of the text itself. Since this approach has failed to provide a compelling argument, this thesis will use a different approach, and attempt to fit the letter as a whole into its historical context. The underlying premise is that, in the absence of a compelling argument for forgery, if the letter matches the general historical context in which it was produced, then it should be considered authentic.</p>