According to a legend in the Letter of Aristeas, King Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt asked for the Jewish law to be translated for the Library of Alexandria, and 72 scholars, six from each tribe of Israel, completed the work in 72 days. Modern scholars think the Greek translation of the Torah was made by Alexandrian Jews around the middle of the third century BC, and the other books followed in the next two centuries. The Septuagint, named from the Latin for seventy, was the Bible of Greek-speaking Jews and of the early Christians, and the New Testament quotes it. It preserves readings older than the Hebrew texts that have come down.
Before and after
- 261 BCEBattle of Agrigentum
- 259 BCEBirth of Qin Shi Huang
- 258 BCEBattle of Sulci
- 3rd century BCEArchimedes' principle
- c. 250s BCEThe Hebrew Torah is translated into Greek at Alexandria
- c. 250 BCEEruption of Raoul Island
- 248 BCEConstruction of Terracotta Army
- from 247 BCE to 224 CEParthian Empire
- 247 BCEBirth of Hannibal
More in Art, literature & culture
- from c. 776 BCE to 500 CEAncient Olympic Games
- c. 520 BCECarving of the Behistun inscription
- c. 430s BCEHerodotus writes the Histories
- 2nd century BCEVenus de Milo
- c. 4 BCENativity of Jesus
- 325 CEFirst Council of Nicaea
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century BCE.