Where’s Rome?: A Possible Roman Parallel to the Translation of the Septuagint in the Letter of Aristeas

This chapter asks why there is so little discussion of Roman background or influence in scholarly discussion of Letter of Aristeas. Following a brief history of Roman influence in Egypt during the second century BCE, I explore the story of the translation of Mago of Carthage’s On Farming that was commissioned by the Roman s enate in 146 BCE and identify parallels to P s.- Aristeas’ depiction of the translation of Jewish Scripture. The contribution concludes with an invitation to scholars to look beyond the Greek/Alexandrian locale and to recognise possible Roman influences on Aristeas.