The Cultural Politics of Wonder in the <i>Letter of Aristeas</i>

In this article I examine the Letter of Aristeas, a Hellenistic Jewish text which narrates the events surrounding the translation of the Hebrew Torah into Greek at the command of King Ptolemy Philadelphus. I explore the various Alexandrian and Jewish means for manufacturing the marvelous that are depicted in the text, focusing upon the material, technical, and artistic strategies employed, the specific impact upon audiences, and the relationships constructed between mortals and the divine. I demonstrate that the text engages deeply with—and brings into dialogue—both Greek and Jewish conceptualizations of wonder. Moreover, I argue that this juxtaposition of different modes of wonder production has a cultural-political point. Alexandrian works generate a deceptive form of wonder that has a negative influence on observers, whereas Jewish forms of wonder provide a positive counterpoint that presents Jewish worship as an entirely evident and understandable practice generating an appropriate awe for God. The text critiques Greek wonder and instead promotes Jewish worship and the Jewish liturgy as the most powerful marvel. Such a cultural politics, I conclude, raises questions about the effect the cultural product at the center of this narrative—the Jewish Law in Greek—will have on its users.