Jason of Cyrene

Jason of Cyrene (Greek: Ἰάσων κυρήναιος) was a Hellenistic Jew who lived about 100 BC and wrote a history of the times of the Maccabees down to the victory over Nicanor (175-161 BC). This work is said to have been in five books and formed the basis of the present 2 Maccabees.^[1] See 2 Maccabees 2:19-32.,^[1] especially:

“And all such things as have been comprised in five books by Jason of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book.”

— 2 Maccabees 2:24

The original work is lost, and known only in the epitome made by the author of 2 Maccabees. The author of 2 Maccabees has confessedly exercised much freedom. Not only was Jason's work abridged, but also added to, and probably altered.^[2]

References

1.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Jason of Cyrene". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
2.  Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Jason of Cyrene". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.

External links

•  Smith, William, ed. (1849). "Jason, literary". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology II. p. 555.