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Title: The City of Cain - the City of a Tyrant
Subtitle: The Political Aspect of the Cain Narrative in Josephus Flavius's Antiquitates Judaicae
Author(s): BEJDA, Wojciech
Journal: Revue Biblique
Volume: 121    Issue: 2   Date: 2014   
Pages: 283-297
DOI: 10.2143/RBI.121.2.3157156

Abstract :
The purpose of this paper is the analysis of Cain’s portrait in Josephus’ Antiquities. The Jewish author from his part adds many negative traits which change the Biblical killer into full-blooded tyrant. A distinctive vocabulary used by Josephus suggests his dependance on Philo of Alexandria in depicting Cain as a vile sophist-teacher. The idea that Cain forced his subjects to live in the town that he ruled may be based on achievements of Dionysius the Elder, the tyrant of Syracuse.



L’étude se penche sur le portrait de Caïn dans les Antiquités de Josèphe. Ce dernier charge tellement le meurtrier qu’il en devient un tyran sanguinaire. Des traits de vocabulaires suggèrent que Josèphe est dépendant de Philon en décrivant Caïn comme un infâme professeur sophiste. L’idée que Caïn aurait forcé ses sujets à vivre en ville peut venir de l’exemple de Denis l’Ancien, Tyran de Syracuse.

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