Hellenistic Period (332 to 141 B.C.)

The Hellenistic Period began with the conquests of Alexander the Great. He ruled the Greeks, defeated the Persians and extended his empire to northern India by 325 B.C. After Alexander’s death, his generals split the empire and established by 270 B.C. the Seleucid Empire (in western Asia, including Syria and northern Palestine), the Antigonid Empire (based in Macedon) and the Ptolemaic Empire (in Egypt and southern Palestine). The Seleucid Empire was responsible for a great exchange of peoples and goods within its territory and was a strong force for the spread of Hellenistic culture, politics and religions. After a succession of wars and disputes, the Israelites secured their autonomy by 143 B.C.

A dig from the Hellenistic Age: Monte Palazzi