Part of the truth about Jewish populations in Egypt has been persistently sidelined so that the establishments version of history can hold center stage. Attention has been diverted away from details that would tend to undermine some of the staging of narratives concerning Judea/Israel. As far back as the 7th century BC, Jeremiah (44:1) was bitter about the Jews in Egypt. It seems that certain interests do not want any of the successive Jewish temples in Egypt to be seen as a legitimate counterpart to the temple of Jerusalem, even though one remained in Egypt as the only existing Jewish temple for a few years. Even during the last part of concurrent existence, it could be considered the sole legitimate temple because the original priests in the Temple of Jerusalem were replaced by those who served as puppets of Roman rule, much to the chagrin of the Zeolots. However, various publications and pundits badmouth it as illegitimate and functionally sterile, suggesting its community remained in allegiance to the Temple of Jerusalem. The Temple of Yahweh in Egypt that was destroyed and rebuilt existed between about 500 BC and 400 BC on Elephantine Island in the vicinity of present day Aswan. The ruins of the large associated Jewish community are still being excavated but the displays of the discoveries are being exhibited without Jewish attribution. Up until the invasions in 200 BC 170 BC by Antiochus Epiphanes (the Seleucid monarch of Syria), the priesthood were Zadokites in both Egypt and Judea. They were of the levitican linage, very legitimate, the Sons of Zadok (Ezekiel 44:15-16 and the Damascas Document of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the chosen of Israel according to the latter. They are linked to the scrolls found in Cave 7 at Qumran that are written in Greek on papyrus, in contrast to those from the other caves written in Hebrew or Aramaic on parchment. Since the Qumran sect was intolerant of foreigners, these Jews had to be Greek-speaking Zeolots. The Jews in Egypt could not speak Hebrew or Aramaic, having lived under a succession of Ptolemaic rule. Another link is the solar calendar in use according to the Greek scrolls, whereas much of Judaism used a lunar calendar. Furthermore, Josephus stated that the type of 7-stemmed menorah featured in the Temple of Jerusalem was not used at the Temple in Egypt, where a single light source was preferred, implying the use of the solar calendar by Zadokites and Zealots. Antiochus was then banned from Egypt by the Romans who cherished their new breadbasket, but he remained the neighboring source of oppression by contaminating the Temple with Zeus, which was too much of an offense for the Maccabees. The high priest of the defeated and retreating Zadokites, Onias III, built a new temple over the ruins of the Egyptian Temple of Bubastis about 20 miles from Cairo. Since 1929 there has been no significant archeological interest in the site, even though something with ancient Hebrew writing on it was found there; the site has not been protected from vandalism and is being further lost to suburban sprawl. Josephus seriously added to diversion and distraction by erroneously claiming (in Antiquities of the Jews) that the temple was built by Onias IV, who was not a priest. However, his other earlier work (Jewish War) and rabbinical tradition tend to support Onias III as having been the builder. Josephus was a slippery turncoat, having been a Zeolot commander with personal ties that factored in his scheme to save his neck. His close friend was General Tiberius Alexander, who was a close friend of Titus. The Generals father, Alexander Lysimachus, donated much to the temple of Jerusalem, including the gold and silver plating on the doors; thus they despised the adversarial Zeolots. By blaming the Zeolots for bringing on destruction, Josephus made himself look respectable in the eyes of his new sponsors, the Roman hierarchy. That left him no choice but to downplay the role of the Jewish temple in Egypt. Furthermore, Alexandrian Jews wanted no part of the Zeolots troubles. When Zeolots arrived as their rebellion in Judea was crushed and began killing pacifist Jewish nobles who opposed them, the people handed them over to the vicious Romans. What Josephus did helped to affirm that insulation. The brother of A. Lysimachus was Philo, who, despite his literary productions of Jewish matters historical, religious, and philosophical, including those of Greek influence, never touched upon the subject of Onias temple. Perhaps he too wanted to avoid making a Zadokite/Zeolot link to the Jews in Egypt. The Gospels say that Jesus lived in Nazareth, in Galilee, and Luke cites the familys annual visits to Jerusalem for Passover, where on one occasion the young Jesus debated with priests in the Temple. However, there is no evidence of Nazareths existence until mentioned in the 3d century A.D. The Essenes, the Zeolots, and the traditions of Judaism did not give women due equality, especially in matters of religious authority and leadership, in contrast to the accommodating attitude of Jesus. His mindset in this regard is likely due to influence by the Therapeutae, who firmly believed in sharing equally without regard to gender. Although similar groups could be found in a number of lands, the one located at about 18 kilometers southwest of Alexandria was the likely candidate. They were Gnostic-like, believing in One Divine Reality, and the highest sight of the soul as the way to know truth and discern falsehood. The story is this: Hosea 11:1 ( and I called my son out of Egypt); Matthew, after the Holy Family escaped to Egypt, 2:15 ( to fulfill I called my son out of Egypt). Ref: The Jesus Papers, by Michael Baigent
The extent of Rome around 500 BC was just the middle of the Italian Peninsula. http://faculty.etsu.edu/kortumr/09rome/htmdescriptionpages/01map1desc.jpg The article reads like fake history.
