Category:Antiochus V Eupator (subject)

Antiochus V Eupator was a Seleucid King, 163 to 161 BCE, at the time of the Maccabees.

• This page is edited by Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan.

Born in 172ca BCE, Antiochus V was still a minor when he succeeded his father Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had died at the end of 164 BCE. The general Lysias acted as his guardian and regent.

Although his authority was initially recognized by the Romans, the brief reign of Antiochus V was marked by continuous rebellions. Ultimately, a dispute with Rome about the size of the Seleucid navy led in 162 to the killing of the Roman ambassador Octavius. The Romans then allowed Antiochus' cousin Demetrius I Soter to leave Rome, where he had been held as hostage. Antiochus V and Lysias were overthrown and killed in the summer of 161 BCE; Demetrius I Soter became the new king.

Antiochus V and the Jews

As the Seleucid king, Antiochus V ruled over Judea. In 162 BCE, he accompanied Lysias in Judea in his campaign against the Maccabees. The high priest Menelaus was executed and Alcimus appointed the new High Priest. Judas Maccabeus suffered a major defeat in battle at Beth-Zechariah. Before they could enforce new measures, however, Lysias and Antiochus V had to return to Antioch, where they were overthrown and killed by Demetrius I Soter.

• See Antiochus V Eupator (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

References

• Antiochus V Eupator / John Whitehorne / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:271

• / [[]] / In: The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), dictionary,

External links

• Wikipedia