Salome Alexandra and invading Tigranes a fiction based on Judith and Holofernes
by Damien F. Mackey The invasions of the supposed C1st BC Armenian ruler, Tigranes ‘the Great’, have been suggested as providing the basis for the Jewish story of the heroine Judith. Reader J.P’s comment on an old article of mine, “Tigranes II ‘the Great’ and ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ of Judith”: “I’m confused on whether you think this is a legitimate understanding of Judith. I’ve read most, if not all, of your articles on Judith = Huldah; I wonder if Judith = Salome Alexandra is a more natural fit?”, has prompted this re-casting of the story. Introduction The powerful drama narrated in the Book of Judith has spawned imitations in both BC and AD literature and in their supposed ‘histories’. To recall only a few of many such examples to which I have alluded before: BC influences (i) ...