Alexandria pogroms

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The Alexandria pogroms were a series of executions of Jews by crushing by elephants in Alexandria under King Ptolemy VI in 217 BC.

Jews were living in Alexandria soon after it was founded by Alexander the Great. Three generations after Alexander’s death, Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemy kings who were generally tolerant to the Jews. For example, Ptolemy II (died 246 BC) organized the translating of the Torah into the Septuagint. The third Book of Maccabees, probably written in the 1st Century, records how King Ptolemy VI threatened the Alexandrian Jews with a strange death - crushing by elephants. This event, which may be a legend, supposedly occurred about sixty years before the Maccabees famous rebellion against the Greeks in Palestine.

The story began after Ptolemy IV conquered Antiochus III in battle at Raphia in 217 BC. According to Chapter 3 of "The Book of Maccabees":

Ptolemy decided to visit the neighboring cities and give gifts to their temples. After arriving in Jerusalem, he offered sacrifices and thanks-offerings, and then he demanded permission to enter the Holy of Holies. The Jews refused to accede, and Ptolemy was afflicted with a miraculous temporary paralysis. Ptolemy's plotted revenge was to demand that Alexandrian Jews become either slaves or idolaters. When most Jews refused to become idolaters, the king declared that all Jews be brought to Schedia to be enclosed in a hippodrome.

The king ordered Hermon, his elephant keeper, to madden 500 elephants with frankincense and unmixed wine, and drive them in among the Jews. For two days the king's plans were foiled. On the first day, when Hermon reported to the king, the king was overcome by sleep and slept passed the arranged hour, and the second day, the king was struck with amnesia.

On the third day, the elephants were being taken along to trample the Jews when a miracle occurred. Two fearsome angels filled the enemy with terror, and the elephants began trampling the king's forces. They Jews were freed and departed in joy.

Whatever the factual basis of the story, there remains doubt that the term "pogrom" accurately describes the event. Also, the term did not yet exist at the time. As usually understood, "pogrom" includes a major element of riots and mob action.