Coin of Antiochus IV. Reverse shows Apollo seated on an omphalos. The Greek inscription reads "ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ" (Antiochus, image of God, bearer of victory).

Antiochus IV Epiphanes ([ænˈtɑi̯əkəs.ɛˈpɪfəniːz] Αντίοχος Επιφανής, Greek: "The Shining One") (ca. 215–164 BC) ruled the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death. Antiochus IV Epiphanes. ... Antiochus IV Epiphanes. ... For other uses, see Apollo (disambiguation). ... The Omphalos in Delphi An omphalos is a religious stone artifact in the ancient world. ... April 23 - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Lake Trasimene. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 169 BC 168 BC 167 BC 166 BC 165 BC - 164 BC - 163 BC 162 BC 161... The term Hellenistic (established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen) in the history of the ancient world is used to refer to the shift from a culture dominated by ethnic Greeks, however scattered geographically, to a culture dominated by Greek-speakers of whatever ethnicity, and from the political dominance... The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC - 170s BC - 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 180 BC 179 BC 178 BC 177 BC 176 BC - 175 BC - 174 BC 173 BC 172...

He was a son of Antiochus III the Great and brother of Seleucus IV Philopator. Originally named Mithradates, he assumed the name Antiochus either upon his accession to the throne or after the death of his elder brother Antiochus. Notable events during his reign include the near-conquest of Egypt, which was halted by the threat of Roman intervention, and the beginning of the Jewish revolt of the Maccabees. Silver coin of Antiochus III. The reverse shows Apollo seated on an omphalos. ... Coin of Seleucus IV Philopator. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Wojciech Stattlers Machabeusze (Maccabees), 1844 The Maccabees (Hebrew: מכבים or מקבים, Makabim) were Jewish rebels who fought against the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty, who was succeeded by his infant son Antiochus V Eupator. ...

Rise to power

Antiochus took power after the death of Seleucus Philopator. He had been hostage in Rome following the Peace of Apamea in 188 BC, but had recently been exchanged for the son and rightful heir of Seleucus IV, the later Demetrius I Soter. Antiochus took advantage of this situation, and proclaimed himself co-regent with another of Seleucus' sons, the infant Antiochus, whose murder he orchestrated a few years later. For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... The Treaty of Apamea of 188 BC, between the Roman Republic and Antiochus III (the Great) had to give Romans control over the west side of Anatolia and placed under the control of a client king at Pergamum. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC - 180s BC - 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC Years: 193 BC 192 BC 191 BC 190 BC 189 BC - 188 BC - 187 BC 186 BC... Demetrius I (d. ...

First invasion of Egypt

Because the guardians of Ptolemy VI of Egypt were demanding the return of Coele-Syria, Antiochus, in 170 BC, decided on a preemptive strike against Egypt, and invaded, conquering all but Alexandria. He then captured Ptolemy, and agreed to let him continue as King, but as his puppet. (This had the advantage of not alarming Rome.) Alexandria thereupon chose Ptolemy's brother Ptolemy Euergetes as King. In Antiochus' absence, the two brothers agreed to rule jointly. Ptolemy VI (c. ... Coele-Syria, meaning hollow Syria, was the region of southern Syria disputed between the Seleucid dynasty and the Ptolemaic dynasty. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC - 170s BC - 160s BC 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC Years: 175 BC 174 BC 173 BC 172 BC 171 BC - 170 BC - 169 BC 168 BC 167... This article is about the city in Egypt. ... This article refers to the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For alternate meanings, see Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Ptolemaios VIII Euergetes II) (c. ...

Second invasion

Hence, in 168 BC, Antiochus again invaded, and overran all Egypt, except for Alexandria, while his fleet captured Cyprus. Near Alexandria he was met by Gaius Popillius Laenas, who told him that he must immediately withdraw from Egypt and Cyprus. Antiochus said he would discuss it with his council, whereupon the Roman envoy drew round him a line in the sand, and said, "Before you cross this circle I want you to give me a reply for the Roman senate" -- implying that, were he to step out of the circle without an immediate commitment to withdraw from Egypt, the Syrian king would find himself at war with Rome. Being ambitious but not foolhardy, Antiochus promised to withdraw; only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him. Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 173 BC 172 BC 171 BC 170 BC 169 BC - 168 BC - 167 BC 166 BC 165... Gaius Popillius Laenas (also spelled Popilius) was one of the two Roman consuls in 172 and 158 BC. He was sent as an envoy to prevent a war between Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Kingdom of Syria and Egypt. ... Line in the Sand is a song composed by Jim Johnston and performed by Motörhead, as the theme music for a now defunct World Wrestling Entertainment stable Evolution. ...

Destruction of Jerusalem ignites Jewish rebellion

Antiochus' humilation at Egypt was followed by the most well-remembered aspect of his policy, namely his confrontation with the Jews, which ignited their uprising under the Maccabean leaders. Aside from their interest for Jewish and Seleucid history, these events are of interest as among the first instances in world history of religious persecution, a hitherto nearly unknown phemomenon which would in coming centuries assume an important role in human affairs. Wojciech Stattlers Machabeusze (Maccabees), 1844 The Maccabees (Hebrew: מכבים or מקבים, Makabim) were Jewish rebels who fought against the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty, who was succeeded by his infant son Antiochus V Eupator. ... Religious persecution is systematic mistreatment of an individual or group due to their religious affiliation. ...

As depicted in the Books of the Maccabees, upon his return from Egypt, Antiochus IV organized an expedition against Jerusalem, which he destroyed; he put many of its inhabitants to death most cruelly. He had soldiers enter the Jewish Temple and slaughter a pig (which is impure by the Jewish law) on the altar of the Lord. They set the pig ablaze and then took the meat and tried to make some Jewish men eat it. The men refused and he cut their tongues out, scalped them, cut off their hands and feet, and burnt them on the altar of the Lord.^{[citation needed]} The Books of the Maccabees are deuterocanonical books giving the history of the Maccabees, a Jewish family who rebelled against the Seleucid dynasty and founded the Hasmonean Kingdom in Israel in the 2nd and 1st century BC: 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees 4 Maccabees Category: ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Native American Big Mouth Spring with decorated scalp lock on right shoulder. ...

After this, the Jews began a war of independence under their Maccabean leaders, defeating the armies that Antiochus sent against them. Enraged at this, Antiochus is said to have marched against them in person, threatening to exterminate the nation; but, on the way, he suddenly died (164 BC).^{[citation needed]} The Jewish accounts are in the Books of the Maccabees, and their successful revolt is commemorated by the holiday of Hanukkah. Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC140s BC 130s BC 120s BC 110s BC Years: 169 BC 168 BC 167 BC 166 BC 165 BC - 164 BC - 163 BC 162 BC 161... The Books of the Maccabees are deuterocanonical books giving the history of the Maccabees, a Jewish family who rebelled against the Seleucid dynasty and founded the Hasmonean Kingdom in Israel in the 2nd and 1st century BC: 1 Maccabees 2 Maccabees 3 Maccabees 4 Maccabees Category: ... Grand Rabbi Israel Abraham Portugal of Skulen Hasidism lighting Hanukkah lights Hanukkah (‎, also spelled Chanukah), also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may fall anytime from late November to late December. ...

These Jewish sources, obviously highly biased against Antiochus IV, provide little or no explantion for Antiochus committing what seems an unmotivated and extreme provocation against a subject people which had hitherto been quite content to live under Seleucid rule -- an act that set off a rebellion which further undermined the Seleucid regime and provided the Romans with new possibilities of driving a wedge by allying themseves with the rebellious Jews.

The oppressed Jews mockingly referred to Antiochus as Epimanes ("The Mad One"), a word play off of his title Epiphanes ^[1]. Modern historians, however, do not see a possible mental aberration as sufficient explanation for his treatment of the Jews, and sources giving Antiochus' own version are virtually non-existent.

One theory fitting the facts, held by several historians, is that following his humbling by the Romans Antiochus sought to strengthen his kingdom through the common worship of Zeus -- identified, through the syncretism common in the Hellenistic world, with the chief god of each subject people; and that, while others were able to accommodate themselves to this idea, to the Jews it was anathema. This is supported by Beavan's numismatic research showing that under Antiochus IV, Zeus replaced Apollo, who had been the main deity depicted on earlier Seleucid coinage. For other uses, see Zeus (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Beavan is a name of Welsh origin, meaning son of Evan Surname John Beavan, Baron Ardwick Ray Beavan, Australian rugby player Robert Cecil Beavan (1841-1870), British soldier and ornithologist Sean Beavan, American record producer Places Beavans Hill, a village in Herefordshire Bevan Bevin Bevins Categories: | ... Numismatics (ancient Greek: νομισματική) is the scientific study of money and its history in all its varied forms. ... For other uses, see Apollo (disambiguation). ...

According to this explanation, what was for the Jews an objection derived from religious principle was perceived by the king primarily as a political act of rebellion and defiance of his royal authority, to be punished as such. (Similar explanations have been offered for the Roman Empire's later conflict with both Jews and Christians.)

Final years

Antiochus' last years were spent on a campaign against the rising Parthian empire, which seems to have been initially successful, but which terminated upon his death. He died on that campaign in Persia in 164 B.C. of disease. Parthia at its greatest extent under Mithridates II (123–88 BCE) Capital Ctesiphon, Ecbatana Government Monarchy History  - Established 247 BCE  - Disestablished 220 CE Parthia[1] was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeast of modern Iran, but at its height covering all of Iran proper, as well as regions of...

The reign of Antiochus was a last period of strength for the Seleucid Empire, but in some ways it was fatal; since he was a usurper and left an infant son Antiochus V Eupator as his successor, devastating dynastic wars followed upon his death. The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... Antiochus V Eupator (reigned 164-162 BC), was only nine when he succeeded as head of the Seleucid dynasty. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ...

A villain in Jewish tradition

Antiochus IV is still remembered in Jewish tradition (usually mentioned as just "Antiochus," since Jews had no special reason to remember other kings of that name) as one of the major villains and persecutors of Jews, some of whom are linked with a specific Jewish holiday (in this case Hannukah). Chanukah (חנכה ḥănukkāh, or חנוכה ḥănūkkāh) is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of lights. ...

See also

• Book of Daniel
• 1 Maccabees
• Abomination of desolation

For other uses, see Book of Daniel (disambiguation). ... 1 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible which was written by a Jewish (pre-Christian) author, probably about 100 BC, after the restoration of an independent Jewish kingdom. ... The transformation, by Antiochus Epiphanes, of the sacred Temple at Jerusalem into a heathen one, during the time of the Tobiads. ...

External links

• Antiochus IV Ephiphanes entry in historical sourcebook by Mahlon H. Smith
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Antiochus IV Epiphanes

The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... Coin of Seleucus IV Philopator. ... The following is a comprehensive list of all Persian Empires and their rulers: // The Elamites were a people located in Susa, in what is now Khuzestan province. ... Antiochus V Eupator (reigned 164-162 BC), was only nine when he succeeded as head of the Seleucid dynasty. ...

Footnotes

1. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Antiochus IV Epiphanes