Reimagining Philo

Philo of Alexandria Writing Back from the Empire

By: Torrey Seland

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eText | 22 September 2025

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Reimagining Philo adopts an experimental approach in multiple respects. Some readers might question the use of postcolonial theories and viewpoints in examining Philo of Alexandria: Is Philo not to be regarded as one of the most integrated Jews living outside of Judea? Is he not typically described as the first-century Jewish thinker most affected by Greco-Roman intellectual traditions, a versatile philosopher significantly influenced by various schools of thought--Platonism, Stoicism, and Epicureanism, among the most notable? While the impact of philosophical schools on Philo is unquestionable, it would be inaccurate to define his primary intellectual identity solely from this perspective. Philo was also a committed follower of Judaism. So he should be comprehended as a Torah observant Jew, a Jewish scholar, a politician, and an apologetic thinker and writer, interacting with various intellectual trends of his era. Hence, this book aims to investigate characteristics of the Roman Empire as a colonizing force, its interactions with Jewish matters in Alexandria, and how these and other elements influenced Philo's view of the empire. A key argument suggests that Philo's perspective underwent a significant transformation following the pogrom in Alexandria in 38 CE and his visit to imperial Rome, resulting in a fresh understanding of the empire and the status and roles of the Jews within that context.