Antigonus

• ANCIENT SOURCES: see Antigonus (sources)
• LIST OF SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Antigonus (subject)

Antigonus (1st century BCE) was a member of the Hasmonean dynasty and the last Hasmonean King of Judea.

Overview

Antigonus was the second son of Aristobulus II and together with his father and brother Alexander was carried prisoner to Rome by Pompey in 63 BCE. Soon Alexander managed to escape and resumed the flight again John Hyrcanus II. In 56 BCE Aristobulos II and Antigonos also escaped, and returned to Israel, in the attempt to oppose the Roman power there, unsuccessfully.

Even after his father was poisoned and his brother executed in 49 BCE, Antigonus did not give up his hope of regaining power, challenging the authority of Antipater and John Hyrcanus II before Julius Caesar, but with no results.

In 40 BCE Antigonus allied himself with the Parthians and thanks to their support deposed his uncle John Hyrcanus II, and became High Priest and King, from 40 to 37 BCE. Hyrcanus was mutilated at his ears to make him permanently unfit for the office of high priest and taken a captive to Babylon.

In 37 BCE, Herod the Great restored the Roman control over the region and turned Antigonus over to Mark Antony, who had him beheaded.

Antigonus in ancient sources

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities

Ant XIV 4:5 -- Pompey... also carried bound along with him Aristobulus and his children; for he had two daughters, and as many sons; the one of which ran away, but the younger, Antigonus, was carried to Rome, together with his sisters.

Ant XIV 8:4 -- Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, came at this time to Caesar, and lamented his father's fate; and complained, that it was by Antipater's means that Aristobulus was taken off by poison, and his brother was beheaded by Scipio, and desired that he would take pity of him who had been ejected out of that principality which was due to him. He also accused Hyrcanus [II] and Antipater as governing the nation by violence, and offering injuries to himself. Antipater was present, and made his defense as to the accusations that were laid against him. He demonstrated that Antigonus and his party were given to innovation, and were seditious persons.

Ant XIV 12:1 -- 1. Now (22) Ptolemy, the son of Menneus, brought back into Judea Antigonus, the son of Aristobulus, who had already raised an army, and had, by money, made Fabius to be his friend, add this because he was of kin to him. Marion also gave him assistance. He had been left by Cassius to tyrannize over Tyre; for this Cussiris was a man that seized on Syria, and then kept it under, in the way of a tyrant. Marion also marched into Galilee, which lay in his neighborhood, and took three of his fortresses, and put garrisons into them to keep them. But when Herod came, he took all from him; but the Tyrian garrison he dismissed in a very civil manner; nay, to some of the soldiers he made presents out of the good-will he bare to that city. When he had despatched these affairs, and was gone to meet Antigonus, he joined battle with him, and beat him, and drove him out of Judea presently, when he was just come into its borders.

etc.

• Cassius Dio Cocceianus, Roman History, book xlix, c.22
• Plutarch, Life of Antony

Related categories

• Maccabees (subject) / Hasmoneans (subject)

External links

• Wikipedia