Paralia
Eparchy of Coele-Syria province of the Seleucid Kingdom
197 BCE–99 BCE
Historical era	Hellenistic era
• Seleucid annexation	197 BCE
• Simon Thassi captured Jaffa	143 BCE
• John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod	125 BCE
• Conquests of Alexander Jannaeus	103-99 BCE
• Hasmonean dynasty conquest	99 BCE
Preceded by Succeeded by Achaemenid Phoenicia Hasmonean kingdom
Today part of	Israel  Gaza Strip

The Paralia (Greek: Παραλία - beach), also known as Medinat HaYam (Hebrew: מדינת הים - country by the sea) was a coastal eparchy in Palestine during Hellenistic and Roman times,^[1] ruled by the Seleucid Empire between 197 and 99 BCE, as part of the Coele-Syria province. According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers.^[2] The name appears in the 6th-century Madaba Map, appended to the town of Ashdod-Yam, as Azotos Paralos (Greek: Αζωτος Παραλος), ca. 3 kilometers south of Modern Ashdod.

The region was originally set up by the Seleucids,^[3] along with the eparchies of Idumea and Galaaditis and neighbouring the eparchy of Samaria. Josephus wrote that the Paralia was outside Jewish jurisdiction throughout the Second Temple Period, except for a short period under the Hasmoneans and during the reign of Herod the Great and the Agrippas.^[4]

Etymology

The region was described as the Coastal Country in 1 Maccabees (11:59; 15:38) and 2 Maccabees (13:24).^[5]

In earlier Halakha it was described at "Medinat HaYam" (cities of the sea).^[6]

History

The region was originally set up by the Seleucids.^[3] The eparchy bordered Samaria, Idumea and Galaaditis, all part of the Coele-Syria province. Nicanor son of Patroclus was likely one of the governors of Paralia district, and was titled Cypriarch - apparently commanding some Cypriot garrison troops in the region, when Antiochus V Eupator acceded to the throne.^[7]

Part of the Paralia region was first conquered by Jews under the Hasmoneans.^[4] Simon Thassi captured Joppa in 143 BCE, John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod in 125 BCE, and between 103-99 BCE Alexander Jannaeus conquered the areas from Dora, northwards to Acra, and from Gaza, southwards to Rinocorura.^[4] The first penetration of Hasmoneans to Joppa was gradual - first a garrison was set up in the city, with later replacement of the pagan population by incoming Jews.^[5] Only Ashkelon was never conquered by the Hasmoneans.^[4]

Demographics

According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers.^[2]

See also

• Phoenice (Roman province)

Footnotes

Sources

• Rosenfeld, Ben-Zion (2000), "Flavius Josephus and His Portrayal of the Coast (Paralia) of Contemporary Roman Palestine: Geography and Ideology", The Jewish Quarterly Review, 91 (1), University of Pennsylvania Press: 143–183, doi:10.2307/1454789, JSTOR 1454789