[Avodah] Shimon haTzaddik and Alexander the Macedonian

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

The story of Shim'on haTzaddiq, in the office of kohein gadol, meeting
Alexander the Great, as told in Yuma 69a, is pretty well known.
<http://dtorah.com/otzar/shas_rashi.php?ms=Yoma&df=69a>

Josephus told the story earlier, in Antiquities 11:8.
<http://sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-11.htm>

The Daily Mail recently covered what appears to be another retelling
<http://j.mp/1HLxpUF>:

    Mosaic of Alexander the Great meeting a Jewish priest is the first
    ever non-biblical scene to be discovered inside a synagogue

    - Artwork was uncovered in a fifth-century synagogue in Huqoq, Israel
    - May depict Alexander the Great, based on the presence of elephants
    - Scene is the first non-biblical story to be found in an ancient
      synagogue
    - Depictions of Biblical hero Samson are also part of the decorative
      floor

    By Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline
    Published: 03:43 EST, 15 July 2015 | Updated: 07:21 EST, 15 July 2015

    ...
    The artwork was uncovered in the east aisle of a fifth-century
    synagogue in the ancient Jewish village of Huqoq.
    ...
    The largest top strip contains the scene showing a meeting between
    two men, who perhaps represent the legendary warrior and a Jewish
    high priest.

    In the scene, a bearded soldier wearing battle dress and a purple
    cloak leads a bull by the horns, followed by other soldiers and
    elephants with shields tied to their sides.

    He is meeting with a grey-haired, bearded elderly man wearing a
    ceremonial white tunic and mantle, accompanied by young men with
    sheathed swords, also in ceremonial clothes.

Southern Galil, 5th cent CE. Within a generation of the compilation of
Mes Yuma.

-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Zion will be redeemed through justice,
micha at aishdas.org        and her returnees, through righteousness.
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