Origins & Early Life

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (c. 215 BC–November/December 164 BC) was king of the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. Notable events during Antiochus' reign include his near-conquest of Ptolemaic Egypt, his persecution of the Jews of Judea and Samaria, and the rebellion of the Jewish Maccabees. The son of King Antiochus III the Great, Antiochus IV’s accession to the throne was controversial, as he was seen as a usurper by some.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After the death of his brother Seleucus IV Philopator in 175 BC, the "true" heir should have been Seleucus's son Demetrius I. However, Demetrius I was very young and a hostage in Rome at the time, and Antiochus seized the opportunity to declare himself king instead, successfully rallying enough of the Greek ruling class in Antioch to support his claim. This helped set a destabilizing trend in the Seleucid Empire in subsequent generations, as an increasing number of claimants tried to usurp the throne. After his own death, power struggles between competing lines of the ruling dynasty heavily contributed to the collapse of the empire. Antiochus's often eccentric behavior and capricious actions led some of his contemporaries to call him Epimanes ("The...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Aratus of Sicyon — Contemporary figure (Died in -213) (-213): Prominent Hellenistic statesman and general of the Achaean League.
• Carneades — Contemporary figure (Born in -213) (-213): Leading Hellenistic Skeptic philosopher, critic of Stoicism and Epicureanism.
• Archimedes — Contemporary figure (Died in -212) (-212): Polymath of Syracuse, foundational figure in mathematics and engineering.
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• -164 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -164