Against Apion

"Against Apion" by Flavius Josephus is a historical account written in the 1st century AD. In this work, Josephus defends Jewish culture and history, aiming to counter the negative assertions made by Greek historians about his people. The text highlights the antiquity and rich traditions of the Jewish nation while challenging the credibility of Greek historical sources. The opening of "Against Apion" sets the stage for Josephus's argument by asserting the long-standing existence and integrity of the Jewish people. He expresses his dismay at the misconceptions propagated by both Greek writers and those who harbor animosity towards Jews. Josephus aims to expose these falsehoods and demonstrates that the Greeks themselves lack a profound historical foundation. To bolster his claims, he indicates that he will reference esteemed Greek historians who have acknowledged Jewish history, reiterating the importance of recognizing the Jewish contributions to civilization despite the prevailing narratives that seek to diminish their significance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Flavius Josephus or Yosef ben Mattityahu was a Roman–Jewish historian and military leader. Best known for writing The Jewish War, he was born in Jerusalem—then part of the Roman province of Judea—to a father of priestly descent and a mother who claimed royal ancestry.