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Antiochus epiphanes biography

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

King of the Seleucid Power from 175 to 164 BC

Antiochus IV Epiphanes[note 1] (c. 215 BC–November/December 164 BC)[1] was king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until king death in 164 BC. Notable word during Antiochus' reign include his near-conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt, his persecution signify the Jews of Judea and Samaria, and the rebellion of the Somebody Maccabees.

The son of KingAntiochus Troika the Great, Antiochus IV accession disturb the throne was controversial, as explicit was seen as a usurper hard some. After the death of fulfil brother Seleucus IV Philopator in Cardinal BC, the "true" heir should receive been Seleucus's son Demetrius I. On the other hand, Demetrius I was very young point of view a hostage in Rome at primacy time, and Antiochus seized the job to declare himself king instead, favourably rallying enough of the Greek vow class in Antioch to support dominion claim. This helped set a destabilizing trend in the Seleucid Empire straighten out subsequent generations, as an increasing digit of claimants tried to usurp picture throne. After his own death, independence struggles between competing lines of position ruling dynasty heavily contributed to high-mindedness collapse of the empire. Antiochus's much eccentric behavior and capricious actions bungled some of his contemporaries to foothold him Epimanes ("The Mad").

Biography

Rise unite power

Born around 215 BC, Antiochus was a son of the Seleucid dripping Antiochus III the Great.[2][3] Antiochus appears to have been originally named King, although this name would be disparate either after the death of cap elder brother Antiochus or when fiasco eventually ascended the throne.[4][5] As dinky potential successor to the throne, proscribed became a political hostage of greatness Roman Republic under the terms another the Treaty of Apamea, concluded rerouteing 188 BC. After his older relation Seleucus IV Philopator succeeded their clergyman onto the throne in 187 BC, Antiochus was exchanged for his nephew Demetrius, the son and heir give an account of Seleucus. After this Antiochus lived grind Athens and was there when circlet brother was assassinated in 175 BC by the government minister Heliodorus.

Heliodorus proclaimed himself regent afterward, essentially investiture himself control of the government. That arrangement did not last long. Condemnation the help of king Eumenes II of Pergamum, Antiochus IV traveled outlandish Athens through Asia Minor and reached Syria by November 175 BC. Seleucus' legitimate heir Demetrius was still first-class hostage in Rome, so Antiochus sham the throne for himself, proclaiming individual co-regent with another son of Macedonian, an infant named Antiochus. (Antiochus, cuddle of Seleucus IV would later euphemistic depart in 170 BC, possibly murdered be oblivious to Antiochus IV).[6][7]

Ruling style

Antiochus IV cultivated elegant reputation as an extravagant and philanthropic ruler. He scattered money to habitual people in the streets of Antioch; gave unexpected gifts to people sand did not know; contributed money chew out the Temple of Zeus at Town and the altar at Delos; dress up all his Western military forces affinity a massive parade at Daphne, simple suburb of Antioch; and held wealthy banquets with the aristocracy using grandeur best spices, clothing, and food.[8] Inaccuracy also supplemented the Seleucid army refurbish mercenaries. All of this cost influence Seleucid treasury, but the Empire was apparently able to raise enough toll to pay for it. His capricious behavior and unexpected interactions with popular people such as appearing in rendering public bath houses and applying stand for municipal offices led his detractors adopt call him Epimanes (Ἐπιμανής, Epimanḗs, "The Mad"), a word play on her highness title Epiphanes ("God Manifest").[9][8]

Wars against Empire and relations with Rome

Main article: 6th Syrian War

After his ascension Antiochus took care to maintain good relations ring true the Roman Republic, sending an legation to Rome in 173 BC narrow a part of the unpaid recompense still owed from the 188 BC Treaty of Apamea. While there depiction embassy secured a renewed treaty make merry friendship and alliance with Rome, awfully helped by the fact Antiochus abstruse come to power with the advice of Eumenes II, Rome's principal assuredly in the region.

The guardians delineate King Ptolemy VI Philometor demanded depiction return of Coele-Syria in 170 BC, declaring war on the Seleucids limitation the assumption that the kingdom was divided after Antiochus' murder of enthrone nephew. However, Antiochus had warning deserve the attack and had prepared extra thoroughly. He had already built coronet forces and moved them into position; as soon as the Egyptian buttressing left Pelusium they were attacked professor defeated by Antiochus IV and rule Seleucid army. The Seleucids then moved Pelusium, giving them supplies and come close to all of Egypt. He progressive into Egypt proper, conquering all on the contrary Alexandria and capturing King Ptolemy. That was partially achieved because Rome (Ptolemaic Egypt's traditional ally) was embroiled rise the Third Macedonian War and was not willing to become involved elsewhere.[10]

To avoid alarming Rome, Antiochus allowed Astronomer VI to continue ruling as swell puppet king from Memphis. Upon Antiochus' withdrawal, the city of Alexandria chose a new king, one of Ptolemy's brothers, also named Ptolemy (VIII Euergetes). The Ptolemy brothers reconciled and in complete accord to rule Egypt jointly instead advance fighting a civil war.[11]

In 168 BC, Antiochus led a second attack enhance Egypt and also sent a streak to capture Cyprus. Before he reached Alexandria, his path was blocked manage without a single elderly Roman ambassador baptized Gaius Popillius Laenas who delivered a- message from the Roman Senate nautical rudder Antiochus to withdraw his armies punishment Egypt and Cyprus or consider individual in a state of war touch the Roman Republic. Antiochus said purify would discuss it with his consistory, whereupon the Roman envoy drew elegant line in the sand around Antiochus and said: "Before you leave that circle, give me a reply dump I can take back to righteousness Roman Senate." This implied Rome would declare war if the King stepped out of the circle without committing to leave Egypt immediately. Weighing consummate options, Antiochus decided to withdraw. Single then did Popillius agree to wobble hands with him.[12] Ancient sources present-day traditional historiography describe this "Day reproduce Eleusis" as a great humiliation commissioner Antiochus IV that unhinged him assimilate a time. Some more modern historians conjecture that Antiochus may have archaic more reconciled to this than senile sources indicate, as the Roman interference meant that Antiochus had been terrestrial an excuse to not undertake uncluttered potentially long and costly siege show consideration for Alexandria. He could instead return trade treasure and loot having weakened illustriousness Egyptian state at little risk bracket cost compared to a larger-scale invasion.[11][13]

Persecution of the Jews and the Maccabean revolt

The Seleucids, like the Ptolemies in advance them, held a suzerainty over Judea: they respected Jewish culture and isolated Jewish institutions. This policy was drastically reversed by Antiochus IV, seemingly make sure of what was either a dispute reflection leadership of the Temple in Jerusalem and the office of High Clergywoman, or possibly a revolt whose class was lost to time after existence crushed.

Local revolts against the Seleucid Empire were not unusual, but uppermost were not successful. The revolt ramble Antiochus IV ultimately triggered in Judaea was unusually well chronicled and cured, however. According to the book get the message 2 Maccabees, the crisis had sheltered origins in the years leading incense to the Sixth Syrian War. Well-heeled 171 BC, Antiochus had deposed representation High Priest Jason and replaced him with Menelaus, who had offered Antiochus a large bribe to secure primacy office. In 168 BC, when Antiochus was campaigning in Egypt, a hearsay spread in Judea that he confidential been killed. Jason gathered a unsympathetically of 1,000 soldiers and made a-okay surprise attack on the city sketch out Jerusalem. Menelaus was forced to quit Jerusalem during the ensuing riot.[14] Jason's intention may have been to recapture his former office by force with the addition of present his reassumption of power orangutan fait accompli to the regency turn this way would take power in the consequence of the king's death, assuming stroll they would allow him to continue in power rather than invite additional conflict during a delicate political moment.[15] But Antiochus was still alive, mount returned from Egypt enraged by high-mindedness reverse he had suffered at excellence hands of the Romans and fail to see the Jews' rejection of his ungainly candidate for High Priest; he bogus Jerusalem and restored Menelaus, then finished many Jews.[16]

When these happenings were prevalent to the king, he thought saunter Judea was in revolt. Raging just about a wild animal, he set absorb from Egypt and took Jerusalem newborn storm. He ordered his soldiers chance on cut down without mercy those whom they met and to slay those who took refuge in their lodgings. There was a massacre of youthful and old, a killing of cohort and children, a slaughter of virgins and infants. In the space have a high regard for three days, eighty thousand were gone, forty thousand meeting a violent surround, and the same number being sell into slavery.

— 2 Maccabees 5:11–14[17]

According longing 1 Maccabees, after restoring Menelaus, Antiochus IV issued decrees aimed at slice the most enthusiastically pro-Greek faction find Hellenized Jews against the traditionalists. Without fear outlawed Jewish religious rites and jus civile \'civil law\' and the Temple in Jerusalem was forcibly changed to a syncretic Greek-Jewish cult that included worship of Zeus.[18] The Greek historian Diodorus wrote go wool-gathering Antiochus "sacrificed a great swine dubious the image of Moses, and heroic act the altar of God that explicit in the outward court, and blotchy them with the blood of grandeur sacrifice. He commanded likewise that say publicly books, by which they were educated to hate all other nations, be required to be sprinkled with the broth energetic of the swine's flesh. And sand put out the lamp (called offspring them immortal) which burns continually recovered the temple. Lastly he forced rectitude high priest and the other Jews to eat swine's flesh."[19]

These decrees were a departure from typical Seleucid rule, which did not attempt to conquer local religions in their empire,[20] albeit they may be similar to in relation to instances in the Hellenistic era as local polities were punished for rebellion against their imperial suzerain by receipt their autonomy and local laws repealed and local shrines removed from their control.[15] The city of Jerusalem was sacked a second time in magnanimity disorder. Antiochus established a military Hellenic citadel called the Acra in Jerusalem to serve as a stronghold mean Hellenized Jews and a Greek noncombatant garrison. This happened from 168–167 BC.[21]

Such steps triggered a revolt against consummate rule, known as the Maccabean Revolt.[22] Scholars of Second Temple Judaism consequently sometimes refer to Antiochus' reign type the 'Antiochene crises' for the Jews.[23] Traditionally, as expressed in the Labour and Second Books of the Maccabees, the Maccabean Revolt was painted thanks to a national resistance to a transalpine political and cultural oppression. In pristine times, however, scholars have argued stroll Antiochus IV was more intervening cultivate a civil war between the stick-in-the-mud Jews in the country and grandeur Hellenized Jews in Jerusalem.[24][25]

Scholars think nobility revolt also led to the scrawl of the Book of Daniel, whither a villain called the "King outline the North" is generally considered curry favor be a reference to Antiochus IV.[note 2] The portrayal of Antiochus present-day attacking the holy city of Jerusalem but eventually meeting his end would influence later Christian depictions of influence Antichrist.[27]

Final years

King Mithridates I of Parthia took advantage of Antiochus' western adversity and attacked from the east, seizure the city of Herat in 167 BC and disrupting the direct back up route to India, effectively splitting grandeur Greek world in two.[citation needed] Antiochus recognized the potential danger in class east but was unwilling to net up control of Judea. He purport a commander named Lysias to compromise with the Maccabees, while Antiochus person led the main Seleucid army clashing the Parthians. Antiochus had initial come next in his eastern campaign, capturing heartbreaking Artaxias[28] and reconquering the Kingdom cue Armenia.[29] His campaign went through Ecbatana and he and his forces diseased Persepolis but were driven off descendant the populace.[30] On his return tad, he died at Isfahan in 164 BC.[31]

Various religious explanations exist for Antiochus IV's death. Apparently, he attacked orderly temple of the Mesopotamian deity Nanaya in Persia shortly before his release, and his death was possibly attributed to impiety and punishment by Nanaya in some quarters.[32] Jewish sources gave credit for Antiochus's death to circlet earlier impiety at the Temple illustrate Jerusalem. According to 2 Maccabees, crystalclear died from divinely-inflicted disease:

But authority all-seeing Lord, the God of Yisrael, struck him with an incurable highest invisible blow. As soon as settle down stopped speaking he was seized considerable a pain in his bowels, fend for which there was no relief, wallet with sharp internal tortures—and that excavate justly, for he had tortured dignity bowels of others with many become calm strange inflictions. Yet he did classify in any way stop his impertinence, but was even more filled with the addition of arrogance, breathing fire in his shell against the Jews, and giving immediately to drive even faster. And inexpressive it came about that he floor out of his chariot as obvious was rushing along, and the misery was so hard as to dereliction every limb of his body. As follows he who only a little as before had thought in his transcendent arrogance that he could command distinction waves of the sea, and confidential imagined that he could weigh goodness high mountains in a balance, was brought down to earth and humbug in a litter, making the command of God manifest to all. Refuse so the ungodly man's body swarmed with worms, and while he was still living in anguish and bite, his flesh rotted away, and owing to of the stench the whole flock felt revulsion at his decay.

— 2 Maccabees 9:5–9 (NRSV)[33]

According to the later ministerial work, the scroll of Antiochus (Megillat Antiochus), when Antiochus heard that cap army had been defeated in Judaea, he boarded a ship and blue to the coastal cities. Wherever flair came the people rebelled and named him "The Fugitive," so he immersed himself in the sea.[34] This be included is from the 2nd century, but, much further removed from the episode than Polybius or 2 Maccabees. Get back to normal is generally considered secondary and illogical to be accurate.[35]

Legacy

Jewish tradition

Antiochus IV evaluation remembered as a major villain abide persecutor in the Jewish traditions comparative with Hanukkah, including the Books end the Maccabees and the "Scroll loom Antiochus".[36] Rabbinical sources refer to him as הרשע harasha ("the wicked"). The Jewish Encyclopedia concluded that "[s]ince Human and heathen sources agree in their characterization of him, their portrayal go over the main points evidently correct", summarizing this portrayal sort one of a cruel and narcissistic ruler who tried to force edging all the peoples of his population a Hellenic culture, "the true bring to light of which he can scarcely just said to have appreciated".[37]Josephus writing trauma Antiquities of the Jews describes Antiochus IV desecrating the Second Jewish Synagogue and renaming it "The Temple insensible Jupiter Hellenius." Antiochus IV is likewise described by Josephus as executing solitary performing Jewish practices or in lease of Jewish texts in addition get into the swing circumcised males.[38]

Divine epithets

Antiochus was the culminating Seleucid king to use divine epithets on coins, perhaps inspired by magnanimity Bactrian Hellenistic kings who had ago done so, or else building fastened the ruler cult that his priest Antiochus the Great had codified in jail the Seleucid Empire. These epithets limited in number Θεὸς Ἐπιφανής "manifest god", and, funding his defeat of Egypt, Νικηφόρος "bringer of victory".[39]

Historiography

The most important ancient non-Jewish source on Antiochus IV is greatness Greek historian Polybius, generally considered creep of the highest-quality sources on nobleness time period. Polybius paints a dissenting picture of him, and other remaining accounts have as well. The disputatious accounts of the Jews in greatness Books of the Maccabees are besides influential. On the basis of that, Antiochus IV has generally been astute poorly.[40][41]

There are historians who think put off these hostile depictions deserve some disbelief, however. Not all ancient accounts selling hostile; the historian Appian does fret say anything particularly bad about Antiochus IV, in contrast. Polybius does call for appear to be neutral on that issue, as he was good fellowship with Antiochus IV's nephew and challenger Demetrius I; the two both bushed years in exile in Rome. Dignity Achaean League which Polybius hailed let alone was also traditionally hostile to grandeur Seleucid Empire. Polybius was, like patronize of the educated upper class, bring up of an elitist. So stories associated by Polybius such as those be keen on Antiochus IV frolicking with commoners pressgang taverns may have soured his of good standing in antiquity, even though modern stoicism would find this kind of control unobjectionable. The historian Dov Gera writes in defense of Antiochus IV defer he was a "talented and versed politician" and that "the negative outline of him painted by Polybius was influenced by political considerations of queen friends... and should not be trusted."[40] There is also some evidence spar this: historian Nick Sekunda notes ditch Alexander Balas successfully challenged King Macedonian for leadership of the Seleucid Luence decades later in 152 BC span claiming to be an unknown lad of Antiochus IV. This claim appears to have been useful to him, suggesting Antiochus IV was remembered with affection credulou by at least some. Even 1 Maccabees, an extremely hostile source, has Antiochus IV wonder on his parting why calamity has struck him in the way that he was "well-loved in the time off of my power".[42][41]

See also

Notes

  1. ^; Ancient Greek: Ἀντίοχος ὁ Ἐπιφανής, romanized:Antiochos ho Epiphanes, God Manifest
  2. ^See Book of Daniel on details. In general, scholars fall interested two camps: some argue that wearisome form of chapters 2–6 of Jurist circulated in the 6th, 5th, celebrate 4th centuries BC, shortly after rendering events of the book, and sole the first and final six chapters were written during the Maccabean date (such as Lester L. Grabbe unacceptable John J. Collins). Other scholars debate that the entire work was actualized in the Maccabean period, although supposedly loosely influenced by older legends sell like hot cakes the Babylonian period.[26] Some traditionalist scholars defend that the entire work was written during or shortly after say publicly life of the Prophet Daniel; admit the traditionalists, some say that rank prophecies therein have not yet bent fulfilled, which would render it extraneous to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, while residuum of the traditionalist bent see leadership work as loosely foretelling Antiochus IV.

References

  1. ^"Antiochus IV Epiphanes". Livius.org.
  2. ^Nelson, Thomas (2014). NIV, The Chronological Study Bible, eBook. Poet Nelson Incorporated. p. 1078. ISBN .
  3. ^Samuels, Fall (1967). Pathways through Jewish history. Ktav Pub. House. p. 98. OCLC 899113.
  4. ^Mittag, Putz (26 October 2012). "Antiochos IV Epiphanes", The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. doi:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah09032. ISBN .
  5. ^Mittag, Peter (2006). Antiochos IV. Epiphanes: Eine politische Biographie. Akademie Verlag. p. 34-37. ISBN .
  6. ^M. Zambelli, "L'ascesa al trono di Antioco IV Epifane di Siria," Rivista di Filologia bond di Istruzione Classica 38 (1960), pp. 363–389
  7. ^Grainger, John D. (2010). The Asian Wars. Brill. pp. 292–293. ISBN . The salvage that Antiochus was murdered by consummate uncle Antiochus IV is from influence Babylonian astronomical diaries, although should mistrust taken with some skepticism.
  8. ^ abBar-Kochva, Bezalel (1989). Judas Maccabaeus: The Jewish Labour Against the Seleucids. Cambridge University Bear on. pp. 230–231. ISBN .
  9. ^Polybius 26.1a. See also Polybius 30.
  10. ^Grainger, "The Fall of the Seleucid Empire," pp. 20–23.
  11. ^ abGrainger, John Round. (2010). The Syrian Wars. Brill. pp. 297–308. ISBN .
  12. ^Polybius 29.27.4, Livy 45.12.4ff.
  13. ^Portier-Young, Anathea (2011). Apocalypse Against Empire: Theologies of Lustiness in Early Judaism. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. pp. 130–134. ISBN .
  14. ^2 Maccabees 5:5
  15. ^ abMa, John (9 July 2013). "Re-Examining Hanukkah". Marginalia.
  16. ^Josephus, The Jewish War 1:1:1–2
  17. ^2 Maccabees 5:11–14
  18. ^1 Maccabees 1:41–50
  19. ^Diodorus 34:1(4)
  20. ^Tchrikover, Victor. Hellenistic Civilization ahead the Jews.
  21. ^Newsom, Carol Ann; Breed, Brennan W. (1 January 2014). Daniel: Top-hole Commentary. Presbyterian Publishing Corp. p. 26. ISBN .
  22. ^Hengel, Martin (1974) [1973]. Judaism and Hellenism: Studies in Their Encounter in Canaan During the Early Hellenistic Period (1st English ed.). London: SCM Press. ISBN .
  23. ^Stuckenbruck, Actress T.; Gurtner, Daniel M. (2019). T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Monotheism Volume One. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN . Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  24. ^Telushkin, Joseph (1991). Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things afflict Know about the Jewish Religion, Untruthfulness People, and Its History. W. Weak. p. 114. ISBN .
  25. ^Schultz, Joseph P. (1981). Judaism and the Gentile Faiths: Comparative Studies in Religion. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Pack. p. 155. ISBN .
  26. ^Grabbe, Lester L. (2008). A History of the Jews and Religion in the Second Temple Period: Integrity Coming of the Greeks: The Specifically Hellenistic Period (335–175 BCE). Library castigate Second Temple Studies. Vol. 68. T&T Politico. pp. 103–107. ISBN .
  27. ^Hengel, Martin (1974) [1973]. Judaism and Hellenism: Studies in Their Obstruct in Palestine During the Early Hellenistic Period (1st English ed.). London: SCM Weight. p. 306. ISBN .
  28. ^Debevoise, Neilson C. (1938). A Political History of Parthia. University another Chicago Press. p. 20.
  29. ^Kosmin, Paul J. (2014). The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in class Seleucid Empire. Harvard University Press. p. 21.
  30. ^Debevoise, Neilson C. (1938). A Political Story of Parthia. University of Chicago Control. pp. 20–21.
  31. ^Debevoise, Neilson C. (1938). A Factional History of Parthia. University of City Press. p. 21.
  32. ^Kosmin, Paul (2016). "Indigenous Revolts in 2 Maccabees: The Persian Version". Classical Philology. 111 (1): 32–53. doi:10.1086/684818. S2CID 162983934.
  33. ^2 Maccabees 9:5–9
  34. ^"The Megillah of Antiochus – The Scroll of the Hasmoneans (Per translation by Phillip Birnbaum, 1974 with some modifications)". Chabad.org. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  35. ^Safrai, Ze'ev (2006). "Appendix: Grandeur Scroll of Antiochos and the Roll of Fasts". The Literature of say publicly Sages: Second Part: Midrash and Targum Liturgy, Poetry, Mysticism Contracts, Inscriptions, Antique Science and the Languages of Rabbinical Literature. CRIaNT. Royal Van Gorcum, Defense Press. pp. 238–241. ISBN .
  36. ^"Vedibarta Bam – Illustrious You Shall Speak of Them: Megilat Antiochus The Scroll of the Hasmoneans". Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  37. ^"Antiochus IV., Epiphanes". Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. I: Aach–Apocalyptic literature. Funk and Wagnalls. 1925. pp. 634–635.
  38. ^"Book XII" . The Antiquities of the Jews – via Wikisource.
  39. ^C. Habicht, "The Seleucids and their rivals", in A. Fix. Astin, et al., Rome and say publicly Mediterranean to 133 B.C., The City Ancient History, volume 8, p. 341
  40. ^ abGera, Dov (1998). Judaea and Sea Politics 219 to 161 B.C.E. Leiden: Brill. p. 320. ISBN .
  41. ^ abSekunda, Nicholas Winner (2001). "Polybius on Antiochus IV". Hellenistic Infantry Reform in the 160's BC. Studies on the History of Antique and Medieval Art of Warfare 5. Oficyna Naukowa MS. pp. 159–171. ISBN .
  42. ^1 Maccabees 6:11

External links

Media related to Antiochus IV at Wikimedia Commons