What is Antiochus IV Epiphanes?
'''Antiochus IV''' also known as '''Antiochus Epiphanes''' was a ruler of the [[Seleucid Empire]]. He was known for conquering most of [[Egypt]] from the [[Ptolemaic dynasty]], for conquering [[Judea]] and [[Samaria]] and for losing a [[war]] to [[the Maccabees]]. ==Rise to Power== Antiochus's [[father]] [[Antiochus the Great]] ruled the [[Seleucid Empire]] and fought [[war]]s against the [[Roman Republic]]. After ending them with a [[treaty]], the Romans took the younger Antiochus [[hostage]] to make sure that his father didn't disturb the [[peace]], since that was one of the rules in the [[treaty]]. After Antiochus's father died, his older [[brother]] [[Seleucus IV Philopator]] became [[king]] so the Romans [[free]]d Antiochus and took Seleucus's son. Someone named Heliodorus worked for the [[government]] of the [[Seleucid Empire]] so [[Heliodorus (minister)]] [[kill]]ed Seleucus to take over the [[Empire]]. Then Antiochus teamed up with [[King]] [[Eumenes II]] to take over and become the new [[king]] and Antiochus (probably) [[kill]]ed his [[nephew]] so that he could stay [[king]]. ==Egypt== Antiochus fought a [[war]] against [[Egypt]] and won but didn't want to scare the [[Roman Republic]] into thinking he was dangerous so he let [[Ptolemy VIII]] continue to rule [[Egypt]]. ==Jewish revolt== Antiochus wanted to [[assimilate]] the [[Jews]] since he didn't want them to rebel so he banned [[circumcision]], used the [[law]] to make the Jews work on the [[Sabbath]], put [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[idol]]s in the [[Second Temple]] of [[Jerusalem]], made the Chief [[Kohen]] [[sacrifice]] [[animal]]s to [[Zeus]] and put a [[gymnasium]] in the Temple's [[yard]] where the people would wrestle [[naked]]. [[Matityahu]] son of Yochanan was [[angry]] about this so he decided to lead a [[rebellion]] against Antiochus. Then Matityahu died so his son, [[Judah Maccabee]] led the revolt against Antiochus. Antiochus lost the [[war]] to [[the Maccabees]]. ==Death== Shortly after the [[Maccabean Revolt]], Antiochus got [[sick]