The
death of Alexander in 323 leads to a war of succession between his generals,
the so-called diadochoi. After a series of wars of succession, the
idea of keeping the empire together is given up and the
realm united by Alexander is carved up into three kingdoms. The Antigonides
rule Macedonia and Greece, the Seleucids dominate the multiethnic conglomerate
that had been dominated by the Persians, and the Ptolemies rule Egypt and
its environs, including Judah/Palestine and Phoenicia (until c. 200BCE).
From 301 to 198 Jerusalem is ruled by the Egyptian dynasty of diadochos Ptolemy I "Soter" (i.e., the savior) and administered by a council of elders (gerousia, later called the Sanhedrin). This form of government is aristocratic, i.e., the city and whatever belongs to it, is run by a group of influential families. During the Ptolemaic period, the most influential family were the Tobiads. At the head of the Jerusalem gerousia stands the high priest, leader of the Temple based priesthood. Political leadership and land ownership are thus in the hands of a small group of priestly families.
Image:
The coin bears a portrait of Ptolemy I. "Soter" (305-283/82),
one of Alexander's generals and the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt.