Antiochus
Antiochus, the name of 13 kings of the Seleucid dynasty, which ruled a Hellenistic kingdom centering in Syria, 312-64 B.C. The following were notable:
Antiochus III, called the Great (242-187 B.C.), succeeded to the throne in 223. He reconquered much territory recently lost to the kingdom and gained control of Egypt when his daughter Cleopatra became ruler of Egypt after the death of her husband, Ptolemy V. Antiochus became an ally of the Aetolian League in Greece in a war against Rome. He was defeated at Thermopylae in 191 and suffered a disastrous defeat at Magnesia in 190 (or 189), losing most of Asia Minor.
Antiochus IV, called Epiphanes (the Illustrious) (?-163 B.C.), his younger son, seized the throne in 175. He is remembered especially for his brutal persecution of the Jews in Jerusalem. His attempt to abolish the Jewish faith in 167 brought on a revolt led by the Maccabaean family. The Maccabees defeated every force Antiochus sent against them, and in 165 won control of Jerusalem.