Paralia (Palestine)
| Paralia | |||||
| Eparchy of Coele-Syria province of the Seleucid Kingdom | |||||
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| Historical era | Hellenistic era | ||||
| • | Seleucid annexation | 197 BCE | |||
| • | Simon Thassi captured Jaffa | 143 BCE | |||
| • | John Hyrcanus captured Jamnia and Ashdod | 125 BCE | |||
| • | Conquests of Alexander Jannaeus | 103-99 BCE | |||
| • | Hasmonean dynasty conquest | 99 BCE | |||
| Today part of |
 Israel Gaza Strip
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The Paralia (Greek: Παραλία - beach), also known as Medinat HaYam (Hebrew: מדינת הים - country by the sea) was a coastal eparchy in Palestine during Hellenistic and Roman times, ruled by the Seleucid Empire between 197 to 99 BCE, as part of the Coele-Syria province. According to Josephus, the inhabitants of the region were primarily Greek city-dwellers.
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids, along with the eparchies of Idumea and Galaaditis and neighbouring the eparchy of Samaria. Josephus wrote that the Paralia was outside Jewish jurisdiction throughout the Second Temple Period, except for a short period under the Hasmoneans and during the reign of Herod the Great and the Agrippas.
The region was described as the Coastal Country in 1 Maccabees (11:59; 15:38) and 2 Maccabees (13:24).
In earlier Halakha it was described at "Medinat HaYam" (cities of the sea).
The region was originally set up by the Seleucids. The eparchy bordered Samaria, Idumea and Galaaditis, all part of the Coele-Syria province. Nicanor son of Patroclus was likely one of the governors of Paralia district, and was titled Cypriarch - apparently commanding some Cypriot garrison troops in the region, when Antiochus V Eupator acceded to the throne.
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