Spartans or Samaritans? Revealing the Creativity of the Author of 1 Maccabees

Abstract A majority of scholars view the Hasmonean-Spartan correspondence, reported in 1 Maccabees, as inauthentic, since it contains many improbabilities, including assertion that Jews and Spartans are fraternal nations. However, its patent implausibility also renders unimaginable correspondence was intended to be understood literally. Hence, binary choice offered research, whereby is either a bizarre fabrication or an authentic despite all peculiarities, problematic. The thus remains conspicuous, unresolved enigma research Maccabees early Hasmonean period. Based on textual clue, this article proposes solution, namely, is, fact, ingenious derision Jews’ ethnic “brothers”—the Samaritans. This suggestion provides new insights into history Hasmoneans literary creativity author Maccabees.