Greek statues in Jerusalem? Jews playing Greek games in the streets? What happened to ancient Israel? Alexander the Great, that’s what.
One of the greatest warriors who ever lived, Alexander the Great conquered Israel in approximately 329 BCE, and a lot of things changed. Over the centuries, first Greek and then Roman rule would dominate Israel. Some foreign emperors allowed the ancient Hebrews to practice their religion in peace, but religious persecution was always an issue. Brave men like Judah Maccabee and Simon bar Kokhba led Jewish rebellions, but Roman soldiers had numbers and time on their side.
