L’eroica, sofferente, madre in 2 Maccabei 7, 21: un inno alla libertà religiosa fondata sulla ragione

This study explores the heroic virtues of the anonymous suffering mater familias in 2 Maccabees 7:21, considering non-biblical Greek texts that may have consciously or unconsciously influenced the Alexandrian Jewish author of the book in his portrayal of the martyred woman. Particular attention is given to the terms and concepts of φρόνημα, λογισμός, and θυμός. A careful linguistic and exegetical analysis of verse 21, along with a comparison to some significant passages from Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic Greek literature, allows for 2 Maccabees 7:21 to be framed within its broader Hellenistic context. Additionally, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of an episode of extreme cruelty that has resonated through the centuries, both in Jewish and Christian circles, as a cry of hope and a profound hymn to religious freedom.