Maccabees

The Maccabees were a group of Jewish fighters who led a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Their struggle, known as the Maccabean Revolt, was sparked by the oppressive policies of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV, who sought to impose Hellenistic culture and suppress Jewish religious practices. The Maccabees succeeded in reclaiming Jerusalem and rededicating the Second Temple, an event celebrated during the holiday of Hanukkah. Their story symbolizes the fight for religious freedom and national identity, and they are regarded as heroes in Jewish history.