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Demetrius III in Judea

Publication date: 15.02.2011

ELECTRUM, 2011, Volume 18, pp. 175 - 181

Authors

Edward Dąbrowa
Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków, Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9324-9096 Orcid
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Demetrius III in Judea

Abstract

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Absence of sources is why we know little about the last kings of the Seleucid dynasty and their reigns. One exception is Demetrius III (97/96–88/87 BC), a son of Antiochus VIII Grypus. What knowledge we have of him we owe to his role in the history of Judea at the end of Alexander Jannaeus’ reign (103–86 BC). Josephus’ historical works suggest that the king of Syria became involved in a confl ict which broke out in Judea between Alexander Jannaeus and a group of his opponents led by the Pharisees. In doing so, he lent the latter his powerful military assistance. It proved so substantial that in a battle near Shechem Alexander Jannaeus’ army was defeated. Only a lucky coincidence enabled him still to stay in power and soon to suppress his opposition (cf. Jos. BJ 1, 92–95; AJ 13, 376–379). This historical episode is exceptional in that Demetrius III was the fi rst king of Syria since Antiochus VII Sidetes to stand on Judean soil and, at that, as an ally of one of local religious groups. It is this fact that makes the event worth looking at through the lens of not only the confl ict between Alexander Jannaeus and the Pharisees, but also of Demetrius III’s objectives in interfering in Judea’s internal affairs

References

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Information

Information: ELECTRUM, 2011, Volume 18, pp. 175 - 181

Article type: Original article

Authors

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9324-9096

Edward Dąbrowa
Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków, Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9324-9096 Orcid
All publications →

Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Gołębia 24, 31-007 Kraków, Poland

Published at: 15.02.2011

Article status: Open

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