Revolt of the Maccabees
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Government and Politics, Religion, Ethics, Military History
- Subcategories: Wars, Battles, Revolutions, Rebellions, Uprisings, Riots, Judaism, Jews, Synagogues, Temples
- Curriculum: Middle Eastern History, Western Civilization/European History, Ancient History
- Geographical Location: Middle East, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon
- Date: 168-143
Article abstract: At issue: Jewish religious and political independence. Result: Jewish victory; creation of independent Hasmonean Jewish state.
Background
After a Roman victory in 192 b.c.e., the Seleucid rulers of Syria struggled to pay a heavy annual indemnity to Rome. Taxes were levied and the temples of subject peoples were raided. When Antiochus IV Epiphanes inherited the Syrian throne (175 b.c.e.), he used the right to confirm the title of high priest to raise funds by selling the position to the highest bidder. Eventually, a man who was not...
[The entire page is 1111 words long]