Genesis and Euripides : exchange in virtue ethics between Israel and Hellas in the Classical and Hellenistic period

Abstract

Several common motives and linguistic features in the works of Euripides and in the Hebrew and Greek Old Testament are an indication that an intellectual and linguistic exchange took place between the Greek and Hebrew people during the Classical and the Hellenistic period. This paper focuses on those methodological issues that entail an examination of the relationship between Greek and Hebrew literature and thought. Both traditional and current research trends are taken into consideration. As a starting point I use the theme of monogamy vs. polygamy in the Andromache of Euripides and the Genesis narratives.