Ma`rifat Adyan

The Maccabean revolt was a movement initiated by the Jews under the Seleucid kings – the successors of Macedonian Alexander in Syria – in the middle of second century B.C. Alexander was trained by Aristotle and influenced by him. More than being a military figure, Alexander was a cultural one. Therefore, along with conquest of territories such as Iran, Asia Minor, India, Syria and Egypt, he proceeded on diffusing Greek culture. His successors followed him in these undertakings. In this process, the Jews' beliefs and thoughts were attacked by Greek civilization. A group of Jewish monotheists called Hasidim were initially resisting this invasion in about 300 B.C. This resistance continued up to the time of Maccabees. The Maccabees were descendants of the priest Mattathias and his sons John, Judas Maccabaeus, Eleazar and Jonathan. They led the Jews' relentless resistance against Seleucid cruel rulers who were diffusing Greek culture. The revolt of the monotheist Jews led by Maccabees in 142 B.C. was fruitful and the Jews gained their independence. In this period, the Jews were divided into two sects of Pharisees and Sadducees. The struggle and war between these two groups weakened the one-century-long rule of the Maccabees, preparing the ground for Romans' predominance. Finally, a Roman warlord called Pompey took part of Syria in 63 B.C. out of the Maccabees' hands. The years 142-63 B.C., i.e. the period of the Jews' independence, is called the Maccabean Period.