165 BC
Mattathias, Jewish resistance leader
Mattathias, Jewish resistance leader
Mattathias, Jewish resistance leader
Mattathias
2nd century BCE Jewish priest of the Hasmonean Dynasty
- Died
- 165 BC
Mattathias ben Johanan was a Kohen who helped spark the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. Mattathias's story is related in the deuterocanonical book of 1 Maccabees and in the writings of Josephus. Mattathias is accorded a central role in the story of Hanukkah and, as a result, is named in the Al HaNissim prayer Jews add to the Birkat Hamazon and the Amidah during the festival's eight days.
Events associated with Mattathias