Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a Hellenistic king of the Seleucid Empire, ruling from 175 to 164 BCE. He is known for his aggressive promotion of Greek culture and religion, which led to tensions with the Jewish population in Judea. His most infamous act was the desecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, sparking the Maccabean Revolt, a significant uprising by Jewish rebels. Antiochus is often remembered for his tyrannical rule and attempts to suppress Jewish traditions, ultimately igniting a struggle for religious freedom that is commemorated in the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.