In difesa degli ebrei

The introduction (pp. 9-43) by Calabi (the translator and editor), situates "Contro Apione" in its contemporary context as Josephus' response to a whole genre of hostile anti-Jewish Greek literature (e.g. by Manetho, Lysymmachus, etc.) which originated in the Greek-Jewish conflict in Alexandria and which, by discrediting the Jews through accusations of ritual homicide and separatism, jeopardized their religious rights within the Roman Empire. States that Josephus wrote his book for the Gentiles to see the virtues of the Jewish people and its values, and for Jews in order to enhance their identity in foreign surroundings. (From the Bibliography of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)