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The 'Yannai Line' ( BJ I, 99-100; AJ XIII, 390–91)

Reality or Fiction

Bibliographic Data

ID10328702
AuthorsAlexander Fantalkin (0000-0001-5996-6465, corresponding author), Orly Tal (0000-0002-7339-4851)
Year2003
Volume135
Issue2
Pages108-123
Publication date2003-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePalestine Exploration Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-0328 • E-ISSN: 1743-1301
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1179/peq.2003.135.2.108
OpenAlexW2101291800
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited15

Josephus has supplied us with a detailed description of Alexander Jannaeus' defensive alignment, erected in ca 86/85 B.C.E. against Antiochus XII Dionysus on his way to Arabia. The term 'Yannai Line' was coined by the late J. Kaplan, who in a series of preliminary publications attempted to relate archaeological remains discovered in Tel Aviv and Bene Braq to this defensive alignment. Archaeological and historical studies dealing with the Late Hellenistic (Hasmonean) period in Ancient Israel have often mentioned these remains to illustrate historical validity in archaeological reality. This article analyses the finds from Kaplan's excavations (which were never fully published) and examines Kaplan's interpretation of the remains. We conclude that Kaplan's interpretation of the excavated remains as belonging to a Jannaeus' defensive line is misleading, and thus one can not refer to the 'Yannai Line' as identified by Kaplan. We also raise doubts to the authenticity of the historical sources and tend to dismiss Josephus' statement (copied from Nicolaus of Damascus) about the 'Yannai Line' in the form it is described. We therefore suggest that at the present state if research the term 'Yannai Line' should be excluded from future scholarly works

Archaeology · Art · Epistemology · Interpretation (philosophy · Josephus · Judaism · Linguistics · Literature · State (computer science · Statement (logic · Tel aviv · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Classics · History · Philosophy

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    Samuel M Paley•The Jewish Quarterly Review•1989

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year0,06
Citation span2010 - 2010 (1)
Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1
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