A coin depicting the ancient Greek king Antiochus IV, a villain in the Jewish Hanukkah story, has been discovered among a trove of artifacts stolen from a holy site in Israel.
The piece, minted between 169 and 164 BC, commemorates the ancient king’s victories in Egypt. However, Antiochus is best known for persecuting the Jews and desecrating his Temple in Jerusalem over 1,850 years ago.
While the coin’s discovery is exciting and occurred just weeks before the first day of Hanukkah, officials are concerned about the man who broke the law — looting several other ancient coins and artifacts from a protected area of Kiryat Shmona.
The Israel Antiquities Authority, which raided the man’s home, said removal of such items could harm crucial research being conducted at the site and destroy any information yet to be discovered.
The ancient coin dates from between 169 and 164 BC. C. and commemorates the victories of the ancient Greek king Antiochus IV over Egypt. The king, however, is known for his persecution of the Jews.
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that begins on December 18 and ends on the evening of December 26.
The holiday honors the rededication during the 2nd century BC. C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, since the first was destroyed by Antiochus, who replaced it with an altar that prayed to the Greek gods.
Antiochus captured Jerusalem in 167 B.C. C. and desecrated the Temple by sacrificing a pig on an altar to Zeus.
The coin was found inside the home of a man who had looted various artifacts from a holy site in Israel.
Hanukkah commemorates the victories of the Maccabees or Hasmoneans over the king’s forces in 167 B.C.
The Jewish army was led by Mattathias Maccabee and his son Judas, who were the first Jews to stand up for their religious beliefs instead of their lives.
The Maccabean revolt led to the capture of Jerusalem, the reestablishment of Jewish worship in the Temple, and the Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea until 67 BC.
Antiochus IV is a villain in the Jewish Hanukkah story who persecuted the Jews and destroyed their Temple. In the image, a statue of the king.
The coin, however, is a reminder of the dark ages before the Maccabean victory over their Greek oppressors.
Retired Israel Antiquities Authority coin researcher Dr. Danny Shion told The Jerusalem Post: ‘Antiochus, king of the Seleucid kingdom, was officially called ‘Epiphanes’, the face of God, but behind his back his subjects called him Epimanes, mad Antiochus.’
The raid took place on Tuesday, and although the suspect told the Israel Antiquities Authority that he was only looking for geological finds, officials found arrowheads, rings, makeup tools, buckles, lead objects, buttons and more. hiding in his house.
Nir Distelfeld, the inspector for the Israel Antiquities Authority’s theft prevention unit in the northern region, said: “Although the find is beautiful and the timing of its discovery before Hanukkah is exciting, we must not forget that the suspect violated the law.”
‘Many looted items were found in his house. The suspect claimed to be a geology enthusiast looking for quartz crystals and metals, but “along the way” he also collected coins and ancient artifacts.
Shown in the photo is the same coin found in the man’s house, but this one is not as worn.
Remnants of the struggle the Jews endured against their Greek oppressors still remain. Last November, the charred remains of a 2,100-year-old Greek fortress were unearthed in Israel, and experts said the scene provides “tangible evidence of Hanukkah history.”
Remnants of the struggle the Jews endured against their Greek oppressors still remain.
Last November, the charred remains of a 2,100-year-old Greek fortress were unearthed in Israel, and experts said the scene provides “tangible evidence of Hanukkah history.”
The fortress, measuring 50 feet by 50 feet, was built with nine-foot-long stone walls before being burned down during the battle of the Hasmoneans and Seleucids, the reign of Antiochus.
The ancient battle began when the Hasmoneans saw Seleucid soldiers stationed in the fortress that stood on a hill overlooking the Hellenistic city of Maresha.
No fighting took place inside the structure, but Jewish rebels tore down the roof, causing the walls to collapse, and then set the enemy fortress on fire.
While removing mounds of dirt from the ruins, archaeologists uncovered thousands of collapsed stones that revealed a massive, foot-thick layer of destruction containing hundreds of artifacts dating to the late 2nd century BCE.
The team removed ceramic hoards, slingshots, iron weapons, burned wooden beams and dozens of coins from the site.