The Nicolaus Project

Nicolaus of Damascus is a pivotal source for Jewish history during the Hasmonean Period and Herod’s reign. As Herod's secretary, his proximity to key historical events gave him unparalleled access to first-hand information and archival resources. Flavius Josephus extensively relied on Nicolaus's works found in his Histories and autobiography for historical accounts. While much of Nicolaus's original work in Greek is lost, fragments remain through citations by Greek and Roman authors, and parts of his philosophical writings are preserved in Syriac translations.
Nicolaus's historical writings are invaluable, not only for the factual content but also for offering insights into his character and literary style, which illuminate the era of the Hasmoneans and Herod. Although only a small portion of his work has been translated into Hebrew, his role as custodian of critical episodes in Jewish history warrants a complete Hebrew translation, enabling broader access and contributing to the preservation of Jewish heritage.
Josephus's citations of Nicolaus vary, with direct quotations in some instances and unattributed use in others. Josephus also supplements information with other sources, like I Maccabees, and combines accounts from different historians. Scholarship has extensively analyzed Josephus’s methods, but there's no consensus on which of his works most faithfully represents Nicolaus's original text.
To tackle the challenges of attributing authorship, this project suggests employing digital tools alongside classical methods. An algorithm will be developed to detect Nicolaus's stylistic footprint within Josephus’s works, distinguishing his voice from others, and potentially identifying new passages reflective of his style. This digital approach aims to refine the understanding of Nicolaus's influence on Josephus's writings and provide a richer commentary on both authors' character, style, and motivations, ultimately offering new perspectives on Jewish history in the crucial periods of the Hasmonean and Herodian rules.