Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the liberation of
Jerusalem from the occupation of Antiochus IV, king of the
Seleucid Empire in 165 BCE . There are many traditions
surrounding the holiday, including gift giving, eating fried
foods, listening to music and playing with dreidels. These
traditions are part of why the holiday has grown in prominence
and popularity. Read on to find out more about the mystery and
history of Hanukkah. The death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE
(Before Common Era) left a tremendous power vacuum in the lands
which had composed his enormous empire. Alexander's remaining
generals took control of the regions, and eventually four main
generals controlled a majority of the territories. Ptolemy
reigned over Egypt, Seleucus reigned over Babylon, Cassender
Macedonia, and Lysimachus reigned over Thrace.1 Seleucus had the
most power, and shortly after the division of lands defeated
Lysimachus in battle, absorbing those lands as well. His kingdom
stretched from Turkey and Syria to I