THE HIGH PRIEST OF JUDEA (163 BCE)

What a terrible fate for Menelaus,
And after such a promising beginning!
Raised up to the High Priesthood by the King,
Antiochus Epiphanes himself,
He wanted to show his gratitude by making
His country as Hellenic as Syria,
Jerusalem another Antioch
Complete with theatres, baths, gymnasia
And temples of the Gods. The first step, then:
To make the Jews conform with universal
Religious practice. So he instituted
The sacrifice of pigs to Zeus in the Temple,
Thus getting rid of two taboos at once.
Next, circumcision was to be abolished...
But his reforms had stirred up such a tumult,
Such uprisings and wars! And now the Syrians,
Wishing to turn their full attention to
The threat from Rome, have made peace with the rebels,
Promised the Maccabees freedom of religion,
Are punishing the cause of all this trouble,
Menelaus himself. Sentenced to death,
Awaiting execution he remembers
A phrase out of the Book of Psalms: "Put not
Thy trust in princes." True, he thinks and sighs:
If he had put his trust in God, his fate
Would certainly have been a kinder one than this.

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