Makkabæer

The Makkabæer, also known as the Maccabees, were a group of Jewish rebels who fought against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Their name comes from the Hebrew word "Makkabim," meaning "hammerers," referring to their use of the hammer as a symbol of their struggle. The Makkabæer are most famous for their revolt against the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who sought to impose Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jewish people.

The revolt began in 167 BCE when Antiochus IV desecrated the Second Temple in Jerusalem and outlawed Jewish religious practices. The Makkabæer, led by Judah Maccabee, successfully defended the Temple and its sacred vessels. Their victory marked the beginning of the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled Judea until 63 BCE.

The Makkabæer's story is chronicled in the Book of Maccabees, a deuterocanonical book in the Catholic and Orthodox Bible, and in the Talmud. Their legacy includes the rededication of the Temple, the establishment of the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah), and the preservation of Jewish identity and culture in the face of foreign oppression. The Makkabæer are celebrated as heroes in Jewish tradition and are commemorated annually during Hanukkah.