According to the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees, it caused considerable controversy when, as a Hellenizing effort, the apostate high priest Jason proposed to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem. ​ — 2 Macc.
Menurut buku apokrifa 2 Makabe, orang - orang Yahudi marah ketika, dalam upaya meniru orang Yunani, imam besar Yason yang murtad ingin membangun gedung olahraga di Yerusalem. ​ — 2 Mak.