Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Maccabean Rebellion in Josephus’ Writings

The chapter examines Josephus’ historical method—namely, his handling of his sources in Antiquities 12.237–64, ranging from Antiochus IV’s accession to kingship to his religious persecution and the Samaritans’ reaction thereto, and War 1.19, 31–40. Antiquities 12.237–41 offers a rare opportunity to examine Josephus’ method when working with more than one source (1 Macc. 1; and 2 Macc. 4: 7–6: 11, or perhaps 2 Macc. 3–7). While the mythical reshaping of Antiochus is easily recognized in many texts, it appears that the depictions of Antiochus in 1 and 2 Maccabees that Josephus treated as historical material contain mythical themes that are ultimately drawn from Daniel. Multiple ancient Judean literary sources allow us to trace how Antiochus and his alleged religious persecution took on a mythic status and became narrative templates that served to describe (or rather, qualify) certain events and characters, such as King Herod.