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The Garland: A Sign of Worship and Acknowledgement

A Hellenistic Symbol in Late Old Testament Books
  • Karin Schöpflin and Friedrich V. Reiterer
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Abstract

For Hellenes the garland is a symbol of worship, victory, and honour, a triad highly esteemed in Greek society. The garland plays an important role as an embodiment of these ideals, and it characterizes and impresses Greek identity, at school, in competitions, and also in war. Inevitably the Jewish people, a minority group, were influenced by this attitude in the Hellenistic period. This article presents some evidence and especially Ben Sira’s new interpretation of this.

Abstract

For Hellenes the garland is a symbol of worship, victory, and honour, a triad highly esteemed in Greek society. The garland plays an important role as an embodiment of these ideals, and it characterizes and impresses Greek identity, at school, in competitions, and also in war. Inevitably the Jewish people, a minority group, were influenced by this attitude in the Hellenistic period. This article presents some evidence and especially Ben Sira’s new interpretation of this.

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