kids encyclopedia robot

Hasmonean dynasty facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Hasmonean dynasty was a powerful family that led the Maccabean Revolt. This revolt helped the land of Judah become an independent Jewish nation. Before this, Judah was controlled by the Seleucid Empire. The Hasmoneans also made Judah bigger by winning battles and taking over new lands.

The Hasmonean Dynasty's Story

A Fight for Control

After Queen Salome Alexandra died in 67 BCE, her two sons started fighting. Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II both wanted to rule Judah. Hyrcanus had the support of a man named Antipater. Antipater was the father of Herod the Great.

Roman Involvement

The Romans got involved in this family fight. A famous Roman general named Pompey supported Hyrcanus. Aristobulus gave up to the Romans. He was sent to Rome, where he was later killed.

The End of the Dynasty

In 40 BCE, the Parthian Empire invaded Judah. They were joined by Antigonus II, who was Aristobulus's son. They captured Hyrcanus. The Romans then made Antipater's son, Herod, the new king of Judea. The Romans defeated the Parthians. They also captured and killed Antigonus. He was the last ruler from the Hasmonean dynasty.

Images for kids

  • Diadochen1

    At the beginning of the 2nd century BCE, the Seleucid Empire (in yellow) expanded into Judea at the expense of Ptolemaic Egypt (blue).

  • Stattler-Machabeusze

    Wojciech Stattler's Machabeusze (Maccabees), 1844

  • AntiochusIVEpiphanes

    Coin with portrait of Antiochus IV. Reverse shows Apollo seated on an omphalos. The Greek inscription reads ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ (King Antiochus, the divine Epiphanus, Bringer of Victory.

  • Palestine under the Maccabees Smith 1915

    Palestine under the Maccabees according to George Adam Smith

  • Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 153

    Simon Maccabee Made High Priest from Die Bibel in Bildern

  • John Hyrcanus

    JUDAEA, Hasmoneans. John Hyrcanus I (Yehohanan). 135–104 BCE. Æ Prutah (13mm, 2.02 gm, 12h). "Yehohanan the High Priest and the Council of the Jews" (in Hebrew) in five lines within wreath / Double cornucopiae adorned with ribbons; pomegranate between horns; small A to lower left. Meshorer Group B, 11; Hendin 457.

  • JanaeusCoinPhoto

    Coin of Alexander Jannaeus, BCE 103–76

  • Mattathias Antigonos

    Coin of Antigonus, BCE 40–37

  • Prise de Jérusalem par Hérode le Grand

    The taking of Jerusalem by Herod the Great, 36 BCE (sic)

  • Parthian Empire at it's greatest extent

    Parthian Empire at its greatest extent, c. 60 BCE

  • Maccabean dynasty

    The descendants of Mattathias

  • Hasmonean dynasty

    Territorial expansion of the kingdom, 167 - 80 BC

  • Judea Judas Makk

    Judea under Judas Maccabeus

  • Judea Jonathan Makk

    Judea under Jonathan Apphus

  • Judea Simon Makk

    Hasmonean Kingdom under Simon Thassi

  • Judea Johannes Hyrcanus

    Hasmonean Kingdom under John Hyrcanus

  • Judea Aristobulus I

    Hasmonean Kingdom under Aristobulus

  • Judea Alexander Janneüs

    Hasmonean Kingdom under Alexander Jannaeus

  • Hasmoneese rijk

    Hasmonean Kingdom under Salome Alexandra

  • Judea na Pompeius

    Roman Judea under Hyrcanus II

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Asmoneos para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Hasmonean dynasty Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.