70 George Dahl, 



ing Ptolemais, Zoilus assisted that city. Forced by the weakness 

 of the rival Syrian kings (Antiochus VIII [Philometer]', and Antio- 

 chus Cyzicenus) to look abroad for further assistance, the inhabi- 

 tants of Ptolemais sent to Ptolemy Lathyrus, Avho had shortly 

 before fled from Cleopatra, his mother, from Egypt to Cyprus. 

 The ambassadors from Ptolemais promised the Egyptian that 

 Zoilus would unite with them in loyalty to him (Jos., Ant. XIII, 

 12:2). 



The fickle inhabitants of Ptolemais, however, refused to receive 

 Ptolemy when he arrived. But Zoilus and the people of Gaza 

 came instead asking help against the Jews, who were ravaging 

 their country. In fear of Ptolemy, Alexander thereupon aban- 

 doned the siege of Ptolemais. Craftily sending for Cleopatra to 

 come against Ptolemy, Alexander at the same time concluded a 

 league of friendshi]3 with him, promising four hunded talents of 

 silver if he would dispose of Zoilus and give his country to the 

 Jews. Ptolemy gladly made a league with Alexander, and turned 

 upon and subdued Zoilus^ Afterward, however, when he learned 

 that Alexander had planned to betray him into Cleopatra's power, 

 he broke his solemn covenant and started to lay waste Alexander's 

 domain, besides starting a siege against Ptolemais {Ant. XIII, 

 12: 3, 4). Just what disposition was finally made of Dor during 

 these troublous times after Zoilus was "subdued " is not clear. 



The passage {Ant. XIII, 12:2, 4) reads: 



KaTao"r7;o"a)itcvo? ^\ ttjv a.p)(r)v ov wero (TVfi(f)ip€iv avTw Tpowov dTpartvu €7rt 

 Y\.roXtp.d'cha, rrj 8e p-d^r] KpaT7](Ta<; ci/c/cActcre tovs dvOptanovi tl<i Trjv ttoXlv koX 



' In Ant. XIII, 9:3; 10:1; 13:4 he is called Antiochus Grypus. Holscher 

 (Die Quellen des Josephus, p. 39) shows that this variation is due to the use 

 of different sources, probably by Strabo. 



^ In view of Ptolemy's repudiation of their agreement upon learning of 

 Alexander's double-dealing, it may be doubted whether Dor was finally 

 actually delivered to the Jews. At least Dor is omitted from the list (con- 

 tained in Ant. XIII, 15:4) of cities subject to Alexander, although Strato's 

 Tower (Caesarea), its neighbor on the south, is mentioned. On the other 

 side must be adduced the evidence of Ant. XIV, 4:4 (parallel to B.J., I, 

 7:7 — see below), where Dor is included among the cities taken from the Jews 

 and restored to freedom as part of the province of Syria. Josephus' notori- 

 ously uncritical use of his sources (as well as his personal bias) complicates 

 exceedingly the problem of deciding what actually is or is not fact in any 

 given case. 



