Podcasts about Seleucid Empire

The priests are organised by Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 31 for the tithes from the offerings of the people. And a census of the priests from 3 years old is made. From the tithes the distribution is apportioned by numbers and by needs. Read verses 20-21 aloud - pause and ponder - "with all his heart". Alexander the Great (Goat) was the great Grecian king that did according to his will. Alexander dies in a drunken stupor in Babylon in BC321. Leaving no heir Alexander leaves his four generals to divide his Empire between them. Two dominant contestants emerged among them - Ptolemy, whose territory was south of the Holy Land; and Seleucis, whose territory was northeast of Israel (called Coel Syria). Chapter 11 focusses on the wars and intrigues between ‘the King of the North' and 'the King of the South'. These two powers contest the ownership of the Holy Land, which soon became part of the territory of the Seleucid Empire. In 171 BC Antiochus Epiphanes comes to power in the north and desecrates the Temple in Jerusalem by offering a pig on the altar. In BC 168 the family of the high priest Matthias Maccabeus revolt and expel the Grecians. The exploits of this heroic and faithful family are described in Daniel 11 (and the non-inspired apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees - also recommended reading for those who want to learn more of this era is "My Glorious Brothers" by Howard Fast. This author won a Nobel Prize for literature for this book. Also thoroughly recommended reading for Daniel 11 is the book "Exposition of Daniel" by John Thomas). Verses 31-35 of Daniel 11 describe the love for their God of the Maccabean family and the help God gives them in casting out of Israel the profaners of the Almighty's holy Land. For almost 100 years the Maccabean dynasty rule Israel. Firstly, under Judas Maccabeus (until he was betrayed by the Jews for money) and then by his brother Simon, and Simon's successors. The time of the end is developed in verses 40-45 when the northern confederacy, headed by Russia will occupy Constantinople - modern day Istanbul - and will attack the glorious land (Israel) and these enemies will perish at the hand of Yahweh Tzvaoth. Acts 11 commences with Peter being caused to justify why he baptised Gentiles. We next have a description of the progress of the truth in Antioch in the province of Syria, where believers were first derisively called 'Christians'. One of these faithful believers is a prophet named Agabus. He prophesies of a great famine that would affect the entire Roman world. The disciples of Antioch start a fund to help Judean believers, who were greatly affected and in dire need. In Acts 12 Herod Antipas kills the Apostle James - the year was AD 44. Seeing how much this delighted the Jews Herod has Peter arrested for execution after Passover. Despite being securely chained between guards the angel of the Lord causes a deep sleep to overcome the guards and releases Peter. Peter proceeds to the house where the ecclesia is gathered to pray for his deliverance. A maid named Rhoda answers the door and runs to tell the disciples that Peter was outside. Rhoda is told that she must be mistaken. The disciples say that it must be Peter's "messenger" (Greek angelos- angel). Peter is admitted to the house and he recounts how he had been delivered. James, the half-brother of Jesus. was informed and told Peter to secretly depart to a different location where he cannot be found. Herod kills the guards (verses 20-23). The chapter concludes with an account of Herod's narcissistic claims and his being smitten with dysentery by the angel of God and Herod dying verses 20-23. Nonetheless the Word of God exceedingly prevails. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

With Antiochus IV Epiphanes' death in Persia, the throne passed to the boy-king Antiochus V Eupator and his standing regent Lysias in 164. Between the Maccabean Revolt, would-be usurpers, and arrogant Roman emissaries, few of the kingdom's subjects had faith in the ruling pair. This was sensed by Prince Demetrius, the son of Seleucus IV held hostage in Rome, who escaped captivity with the aid of Polybius of Megalopolis and returned to Syria to reclaim his birthright. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/10/14/111-the-seleucid-empire-the-elephant-in-the-throne-room/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/111-the-seleucid-empire-the-elephant-in-the-throne-room-transcript.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/hellenisticpod.bsky.social) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Despite the humiliation at Eleusis in 167 and the troubles in Judea, Antiochus organizes an enormous festival in Daphne to rival the games of Lucius Aemilius Paulus in Amphipolis, showcasing the prosperity of the empire that looked as strong as it ever had before. He would follow this celebration with an anabasis into the Upper Satrapies, but would die in Iran in November 164, and the dynasty would begin on a dark path towards its eventual decline. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/09/04/109-the-seleucid-empire-a-sinful-root/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/109-the-seleucid-empire-a-sinful-root-episode-transcript.pdf) Family Tree - Seleucus IV to Antiochus IV (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/reign-of-seleucus-iv-to-antiochus-iv.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

The tension between the various factions vying for power in Jerusalem leads to a crisis, when Antiochus IV retaliates by attacking the city and plunders its famed Temple in 168. A wave of persecutions against Jewish religion and customs inspires a rebellion, spearheaded by Judas Maccabee (“the Hammer”) and the Hasmonean family, who achieve victories against the Seleucid crown to reclaim and purify the Temple, later the basis for the holiday of Hanukkah. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/08/26/108-the-seleucid-empire-the-maccabean-revolt/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/108-the-seleucid-empire-the-maccabean-revolt.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: “Are we ready to celebrate AND surrender to Jesus?"Scripture: John 12:9-2511:47-48,Psalm 118:19-26,Zechariah 9:9-10,Luke 14:25-33,2 Corinthians 4:16-18Bottom line: We will follow Jesus in celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTIONTitanic compartmentalization.Bottom line: We will follow Jesus is celebration AND surrender when we see him clearly.Outline (Kent Hughes)I. The King Presented (12-19)Context - 3 groups come and intercept Jesus and his followersPilgrims coming to purify themselves before the PassoverLocals and pilgrims who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the deadReligious leaders furious and bent on execution for blasphemy"Hosanna" = Save! (Ps 118)Donkey's colt (Zech 9:9-10)Delayed understanding"The whole world has gone after him."II. The King Pursed (20-22)Greeks = Gentile truth seekers"We would like to see Jesus" --continuous senseIII. The King's Proclamation (12:24-26)Jesus' response to their inquiry but to everyoneTo live you must die--to do this life that you will live in this life and beyondDies "alone" - “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬To die alone is to die but not be buried in the ground. To die and be put into the ground leads to life in this parable.https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.12.24.ESVNo exceptionsDie => Follow => Serve => HonorCrown preceded by the cross/crucifixionFor JesusFor usAdditionalThe Triumphal Entry of Jesus is one of the most well-known events in the Gospels, and it's rich with meaning. It's recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–11, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–19.Here's the basic scene:It happens at the beginning of what we now call Holy Week, (Sunday) just a few days before Jesus' crucifixion (Friday). Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, and as He nears the city, He sends two of His disciples to find a donkey and her colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 — “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.”Riding a donkey (instead of a war horse) was deeply symbolic. It showed that He came not as a conquering military leader but as the humble, peaceful Messiah. As He rides into Jerusalem, crowds gather and spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road. They shout:“Hosanna to the Son of David!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”“Hosanna” means “save us,” so they were both praising Him and calling out for deliverance. The crowd was hoping for a political savior to overthrow Roman rule, but Jesus had come to bring a far greater salvation — freedom from sin and death.This moment is full of contrasts:He's welcomed as a king, but within days, He will be rejected and crucified.The crowds are shouting praise, but soon many will shout, “Crucify Him!”It fulfills prophecy and shows Jesus embracing His mission, knowing exactly where it will lead.It's called the “Triumphal Entry,” but the triumph is not in immediate victory — it's in Jesus walking the path of suffering for our salvation. The Triumphal Entry is saturated with Old Testament echoes and themes that quietly (or loudly!) proclaim Jesus as the true King, the Messiah, and the sacrificial Lamb. Let's unpack a few:Zechariah 9:9 — King Comes on a Donkey“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”Jesus intentionally fulfills this prophecy. Kings sometimes rode donkeys in the ancient Near East to symbolize peace. When Solomon was crowned, he rode King David's mule (1 Kings 1:33–35). So Jesus riding a donkey is a royal claim — but a humble, peaceful one. He's not coming as a warlord; He's coming as the Prince of Peace.Psalm 118:25–26 — The Hosanna PsalmThe crowd shouts:“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”This is a direct quote from Psalm 118, a psalm used in pilgrim festivals, especially Passover. “Hosanna” originally meant “save us now!” — it's a plea for salvation and a cry of praise. Psalm 118 also speaks of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, which Jesus applies to Himself later in the week (Matthew 21:42).Palm Branches — Victory and KingshipPalm branches were symbols of victory and kingship, often associated with Jewish nationalism (think of the Maccabean Revolt about 150 years earlier, where palm branches celebrated military victory). The crowd is treating Jesus like a conquering hero, anticipating national deliverance from Rome.(See notes below for more)Transition:"So, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He's not just making a political statement — He's weaving together centuries of prophecy, promise, and hope. He is the promised King, the humble servant, the Passover Lamb, the cornerstone, and the very presence of God returning to His people.And of course, all of this sets the stage for the cross. The King enters not to take power by force, but to lay down His life." -ChatGPTConclusion:Bottom line: I can trust God with everything, even when in need, because he provides, he cares, and he is with us.George Mueller, champion of orphans in England when asked, "What has been the secret of your life?" hung his head and said, "There was a day when I died." Then he bent lower and said, "Died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of brethren or friends." -Hughes, p. 307-308What about you?Do you celebrate Jesus but not surrender to his rule and reign? The latter undoes the former. Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬InvitationHow do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God's provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God's faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence.If you want, I can also give you some powerful quotes or stories from his life!Of course — here's a quick bio on George Müller:George Müller (1805–1898) was a Christian evangelist and the founder of the Ashley Down orphanages in Bristol, England. Originally from Prussia (modern-day Germany), Müller lived a rebellious youth but experienced a profound conversion in his early twenties. Moved by compassion and a deep trust in God's provision, he established homes for orphaned children at a time when many were homeless and destitute.What set Müller apart was his radical reliance on prayer. He famously never solicited funds directly but trusted God to provide for the needs of thousands of children under his care. Over his lifetime, Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans, established schools, and distributed vast numbers of Bibles and tracts. His legacy continues as a testimony to God's faithfulness and the power of prayerful dependence." -ChatGPTKey Themes in the PassageJesus' fame is peaking — His miracle with Lazarus draws crowds and stirs belief.Conflict intensifies — The religious leaders feel threatened and plan to destroy both Lazarus and Jesus.Messianic hopes rise — The crowd greets Jesus as King, but their expectations are political and immediate.Fulfillment of prophecy — Jesus knowingly fulfills Scripture, showing He is the promised King, though His kingdom is not what they expect.Misunderstood glory — Even the disciples don't grasp the full meaning until after the resurrection. -ChatGPTGenesis 49:10–11 — The King from JudahJacob's blessing over Judah includes a fascinating image:“The scepter will not depart from Judah… He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch.”The image of the donkey and colt ties Jesus back to this prophecy of a ruler from the tribe of Judah — which Jesus is.Timing: Passover Lamb Selection DayThis one is stunning. Jesus enters Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan, the day Jewish families selected their Passover lambs (Exodus 12:3). He is, in effect, presenting Himself as the Lamb of God, chosen for sacrifice. John the Baptist had already called Him this in John 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”God's Glory Returning to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1–5)Ezekiel saw a vision of God's glory returning to the temple from the east. Jesus, the embodiment of God's glory, approaches Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to the east (Luke 19:37). There's a sense that God is coming back to His house — though, heartbreakingly, many will not recognize Him. -RC SproulFrom RC Sproul“In the intertestamental period, something took place that would define the Jewish people in terms of their national identity for centuries to come. In the second century BC, the temple was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, leader of the Seleucid Empire. In response, a Jewish man named Mattathias, who was committed to the ancient covenant of Israel, determined to rescue the temple and the nation from the invasion of the Seleucids. Mattathias became the leader of a guerrilla group that fought against the Seleucids. When he died, the leadership of this insurrectionist movement passed to his son Judas, who became known as Judas Maccabaeus, which means “the hammer.” Judas Maccabaeus became a national hero, a Hebrew Robin Hood, who wreaked havoc among the troops of the Seleucids. He put so much pressure on the Seleucids that in 164 BC they released the temple for the Jews to practice their own faith. That event was met with so much celebration that a new feast was instituted called the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights. We know it as Hanukkah, which is celebrated even to this day. Later, Judas' brother Simon Maccabaeus actually drove the Seleucids out of Jerusalem altogether, and when that happened he was acclaimed a national hero and was celebrated with a parade, something like a ticker-tape parade in New York. In that parade, the Jews celebrated his victory with music and with the waving of palm branches. At that point in Jewish history, the palm branch became significant .. as a sign and symbol of a military victory, of a triumph. In fact, that symbolism became so deeply rooted in the Jewish consciousness that when the Jews revolted against the Romans in the decade of the sixties AD, they dared to mint their own coins with the image of a palm branch, because it is their national symbol of victory. When the people waved their palm branches to welcome Jesus, they cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!” (v. 13b) Why did they say this? The word hosanna is derived from a Hebrew word that literally means “save now.” Both this plea and “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” are found in the hallel, a series of psalms that were sung every morning at the Feast of Tabernacles. The series starts with Psalm 113 and goes through Psalm 118. In Psalm 118, we find these words: Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. (vv. 19–26) Every Jewish pilgrim was familiar with the words from the hallel, so when the crowds came out to see Jesus, they naturally used those words. The plea “Save now” near the end of the quoted passage is the English translation of the root word of hosanna. The words “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD” and the additional description shouted by the people, “the King of Israel!” indicate that the people looked to Jesus for salvation, though most likely in a military sense.”John - An Expositional CommentaryR.C. SproulOUTLINESSee above.QUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonThe Light Has Come, Leslie NewbiginThe Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT Google Gemini

The Seleucid realm experienced twelve unusual years of peace during the reign of Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175), but his alleged murder by a corrupt court official paved the way for Antiochus IV Epiphanes (“God Manifest”) to usurp the throne of Syria from his nephew. An incredibly polarizing figure, Antiochus was renowned for his generous donations towards cities and temples, often in honor of his new patron deity Zeus Olympios, but his behavior earned him the scorn of those like Polybius, who nicknamed him Epimanes (“The Madman”). Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/06/104-the-seleucid-empire-madness-and-the-divine/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/104-the-seleucid-empire-madness-and-the-divine-transcript.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

As I dust off my menorah for Hanukkah, I find myself reflecting on the deeper significance of this festival amidst the chaos of contemporary life. Join me as I grapple with the age-old struggle of balancing work, family, and faith. The ancient story of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire isn't just about historical heroics—it's a reminder of the enduring Jewish spirit and the continued relevance of our traditions. This episode takes you through my personal reflections on the pressures and distractions of modern society, from holiday traffic and the temptations of materialism to the allure of technology, all of which can overshadow the holiday's true essence.As we gather around the menorah, let's explore the teachings of Rav Hirsch and Rav Yerucham, seeking to imbue our lives with the profound meaning of Hanukkah. We'll ponder how to maintain meaningful connections with family and community while resisting the pull toward superficial pleasures. Get ready to reflect on the deeper flames of spirituality and tradition, igniting conversations that matter. Whether it's contemplating how to navigate the complexities of daily life or striving to keep the Jewish flame alive, this episode promises insights that resonate far beyond the holiday season.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!Elevate your impact by becoming a TMC Emerald Donor! Your much-needed backing is crucial for our mission of disseminating the wisdom of the Torah. Join today for just $18.00 per month. (Use your maaser money!) https://buy.stripe.com/00g8xl5IT8dFcKc5ky---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

It's perhaps the best known Jewish festival of the year, but what exactly are Hanukkah's origins, and why was it first celebrated?On today's episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined once again by Dr Jodi Magness to answer these questions and unravel the holiday's complex history. On their journey they discover it emerged from an incredibly important event in ancient Judaean history - the Maccabean Revolt, over 2,000 years ago at a time when the successors of Alexander the Great ruled supreme. It is a gripping story of defiance, of Jewish civil war, and of resistance against the oppressive Seleucid Empire.Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.All music from Epidemic SoundSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here.

Question – When is Christmas not Christmas? When is Christmas anything but Christmas? Answer – when we just follow the well-trodden paths of the Christmas ritual, and forget completely what God was saying to us on that very first Christmas.   THE PROBLEM WITH CHRISTMAS I don't know if you've ever thought of this but Christmas is a real problem for guys like me, preachers I mean. Year after year, we have to crank out yet another Christmas series. And for the first few years, that's pretty easy but then after a while you start thinking to yourself, "Well, how am I going to put a new twist on Christmas this year?" Last year, I approached it from this perspective, the year before from that perspective, the year before that from ... well, you get the picture. There are only so many different perspectives on Christmas. Well, we've all been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Yeah, so it's Christmas again, so what? If you live in the Northern Hemisphere it's an excuse for a few days off. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere as I do, it's probably the summer holidays that you're looking forward to more than Christmas itself. A chance for a decent break, a bit of a much-needed R and R and sure Christmas is part of that but the Christmas bit can be a bit of a hassle. Buying presents, figuring out who has Christmas lunch with whom and then perhaps scooting off to Christmas dinner with another part of your family. Kids, uncles, aunts, grandparents – it all gets complicated. And then there's the fact not everybody in the family gets on. You know Christmas day is one of the peak times of the year for domestic violence. Even if it doesn't get that bad you know there are going to be clashes or you're going to have to smile sweetly at someone that you don't really like or you just know that so and so is going to have too much to drink again this year. Those are the burdens that many people carry into Christmas, it's just the reality of life. So as things turn out, Christmas isn't just a problem for preachers like me who have to dream up something fresh and new each year, it's a problem for many, many people. I heard someone say once, a Bible believing Christian she was, "I hate Christmas, I wish we could just skip over it." It's pretty sad but it's the reality for many people even those who actually believe in Jesus. So Christmas gets something of a bad rap, I wonder how many people who are out there who would just love to skip Christmas. I wonder? Well, as you look ahead to the next ten days or so in the run up to Christmas, I wonder how you're feeling about it all, exhausted, frustrated, anxious, stressed. What are the emotions that generally accompany this thing we call Christmas in your heart in your life? What are you feeling? Is Christmas a problem for you? Can I be honest here? I struggle with the kids pantomime version of Christmas. I struggle with the whole Carols by Candlelight phenomenon around Christmas where people get together in parks and sing Christmas carols as though they believe them, when most of the entertainers up on the stage and on our television screens don't have the remotest faith that Jesus is actually the Son of God. It's like we wrap this whole Christmas in tinsel and lights and tie a neat bow around it. And we make it out to be this happy time, when the truth is, for many people, well, they struggle with Christmas. Now I don't mean to be a Christmas Grinch here. Personally, I love singing Christmas carols because they mean something to me but what I really want to know is why don't we sing Christmas carols all year round? Why don't we celebrate the coming of Jesus all year round? I remember hosting a Christmas in July service at our Church some years back. It's a bit of a phenomenon down under as many restaurants put on Christmas dinners in the middle of winter when it's cold and at the service we actually sung Christmas carols. I can't tell you the number of people who came up to me afterwards and told me how weird it was singing Silent Night in the middle of July. Yeah, we wrap a whole bunch of rituals up in a nice neat package in December and we call it Christmas. And it's all supposed to be sweetness and light and yet how much of it really, really, really speaks into our hearts about the wonder of what God did on that first Christmas? What I want to do today is to unsettle you, to drag you out of your Christmas ritual comfort zone and ask you, "Why do you do what you do at Christmas time? Why are you racing around buying presents for people who don't really need anything? Why do you put tinsel and Christmas decorations around your house and maybe even a Christmas wreath on your front door? What are the candles and the Christmas tree and presents and all that food really about? What do you do it for?" If you stripped away all that packaging and paraphernalia what would Christmas actually be for you? Luke 2: 8-14: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified but the angel said to them, "don't be afraid, for see I am bringing good news of great joy for all people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is the Messiah, the Lord." "This will be a sign for you, you'll find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger" and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, "glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favours." So if you took the packaging and the paraphernalia and the ritual and the racing around away, is that what Christmas would mean to you? Would you in your heart shout out, "Glory to God in the highest heaven. Glory, glory, glory. Hallelujah?" Because if not, don't you think you just might be wasting your time with all this Christmas nonsense that you go through each year? All this pressure you put yourself under, all these presents you buy and the money you spend and the decorations you put up and the food that you stuff yourself with – is that what Christmas is all about? Or in your heart, is it about the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God to be the Saviour of this world? The biggest Christmas gift of all history – the Son of God given to all humanity, given to you and given to me. So let me ask you, what is your Christmas all about?   THE PROPHECIES OF OLD I guess when it comes to this whole Christmas thing; we see it from where we sit. And for most of us, our perspective (our take on Christmas) comes through the ritual that surrounds it – a ritual that we've acted out year after year for as long as we can remember. Sure, it's changed a bit. When we were kids it was all about the excitement of presents. But you know the deal, you know all the things that you do in the weeks leading up to Christmas, you know how Christmas Day is going to pan out. You know the carols you're going to sing and the food that you're going to eat and the people you're going to celebrate Christmas with. If it's at all possible, this exciting celebration of Christmas has become something of a routine for you. A bit of a contradiction but it's true for most of us, life is full of contradictions right? When it comes to Christmas we kind of narrow our view, we lower our gaze and focus on the well-worn familiar path of the Christmas ritual. Whatever that looks like for each one of us, we narrow our perspective and like Pavlov's dogs we get on with that part of life and in many respects, that's how it was on that very first Christmas two thousand odd years ago. Although it wasn't called Christmas back then. In fact, the first record of there being some celebration of Christmas doesn't appear until 354 AD, three and a half centuries after the birth of Jesus. And of course many of the modern-day traditions of Christmas that we celebrate on December 25th – for instance, eating turkey, having a Christmas tree, Santa Claus, presents, tinsel, lights, all of those are much, much more recent. In fact, the Christmas ritual that you and I take for granted today, as though it's been around forever, is little more than a hundred years old, it's a bit of a surprise, isn't it? But let's wind the clock back even further to that first Christmas. People by and large were just going on with their daily business. The big news in town was of course the census. The Romans had ordered a stock take of all the people and in the absence of the technology we use today, the way you did it back then was to go back to your ancestral home. And in the case of Joseph and therefore Mary, his embarrassingly pregnant betrothed, that meant going back to Bethlehem. The inns were full, the shepherds were out doing what shepherds did, tending their flocks in the field by night. Other than the disruption of the census, it was pretty much business as usual. And then wham, the light show in the skies in front of these shepherds. God broke into that "business as usual" in a spectacular way. You know what, I'm praying for this Christmas, God is going to break into your "business as usual" in a spectacular way too. All these people were just living their lives, just like we do, head down, doing stuff that they did day after day when all along God had promised a Saviour. There are quite a number of prophecies in what we now call the Old Testament (the Scriptures to the Jewish people) of the coming of a Saviour and principle among them is that He would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5: 2-5: But you O Bethlehem of Ephrathah who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel whose origin is of old from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel and he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God and they shall live secure for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth and he shall be the one of peace. The prophecy of the coming of the Saviour in great power in this tiny humble little village of Bethlehem and by the way the word Bethlehem means literally "the house of bread". Remember how Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." How appropriate that He should be born in Bethlehem – the house of bread. And then there was the prophecy that He would be born to a virgin, now that's pretty outrageous when you think about it, Isaiah chapter 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look the virgin woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel which means 'God is with us. And that is, of course, exactly what happened. There are quite a few more prophecies about the birth of Jesus that were given centuries before that He fulfilled – His lineage, the slaughter of the infants by Herrod, His need to flee to Egypt. The bottom line was that there were plenty of signs, plenty of prophecies, plenty of predictions. Okay they were cryptic. I mean God revealed His Son in mystery and wonder. We always try to analyse God and put Him in a box. We try and figure out how He operates and then make a bunch of rules about Him. But you can't do that with God. He does startling, creative, outrageous things like sending His Son, Jesus as the son of a carpenter in humble circumstances in some shed out the back of Bethlehem. But the picture was always there, the big plan was always there. God had given some predictions about what was going to happen even as way back as His promise to Abraham. Right back there in the first Book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, God said to him, "Through you all nations shall be blessed" pointing forward to Jesus. But the people were just chugging along, business as usual and it was difficult (if not, impossible) for many of them to see, to perceive, to understand. Not all of them had the light show like the shepherds and the wise men. As I look at the world today, it seems to me that still today most are asleep to what God did back then and what God is doing now. The only difference is that we know the whole story, we know what was going on and how it ends. So as this Christmas approaches, you find yourself asleep to the wonder of what God is doing then let me say to you with all love and with all care, "Wake up. Don't be asleep through yet another Christmas." The wonder and the power of what God did back then, the doors that He opened for you through the coming of Jesus, the joy of what He brings to you today, the unspeakable glory that He opens up through His Son for you to spend eternity with Him, why would you want to sleep through that? Why would you want to be blind to that? Those prophecies of old which is the faintest hint of what was to come. But now we know, now we can see … the sheer wonder.   THE REALITIES OF LIFE There is something incredibly powerful about "business as usual". If you think about how your life has played itself out, so far, I suspect that it's been ninety nine percent humdrum and about half a percent of wonderful mountain top joy and another half a percent of tragedy and loss. Sure, some people seem to have better lives than others. Some are born rich, some are born poor and very sadly for some people life is one long tragedy. I wish I could wave a magic wand and take all that away for those people who find themselves in that boat. But I just can't and yet for most of us, most of our lives are occupied by the normal every day, business as usual, monotony which consumes most of our time, most of our attention and most of our focus. Am I right? But beneath that monotony there is always, always, always a sneaking suspicion that there must be more. You've had that feeling, right? This sense that something is oppressing you, something is sidling you out of the sort of life that you think you should be living. There are in fact very few people on planet earth today that don't have that feeling. I used to have it but I don't have it anymore. I've always been someone who's tried to get out there and live life to the full. And all along, as hard as I tried, something was missing, things weren't quite right and I couldn't put my finger on it. I want to wind the clock back to what was going on in the history of Israel around when Jesus was born. Not just the history of the nation but the lives of the ordinary people like you and me. In fact there's a particular bunch of guys I want to focus on because they, to me, exemplify this "business as usual" but something was not quite right in their world. What am I yabbering on about here? I'm talking, of course, about the shepherds who were out watching their flocks by night. Now, no doubt you've sung the Christmas carol many times and heard their story many times. By the way, the fact that they were out there watching their flocks by night makes it pretty certain that Jesus wasn't born in December, Israel's winter. Average December maximums of fifteen degrees Celsius or around sixty degrees Fahrenheit and of course nights were quite a bit cooler. So in winter they generally brought their sheep into town where there was a communal pen where they were cared for overnight. So even though we celebrate Christmas in December, it probably didn't happen then on the first Christmas. Anyhow, here were these guys living out their "business as usual" tending their flocks by night but they weren't living as free men, they were living as men in an occupied country. The Romans of course had occupied and ruled most of the known world back then. And in fact, the Romans had been the rulers for the last sixty or seventy years in Israel. Now, in the overall history of Israel that's pretty short but for those shepherds it was all that they could remember. The Romans were tough task masters and what made it even harder for the Israelites is that they knew they were God's chosen people. They knew they were meant to be free and so they expected, kind of, sort of, maybe one day for God to send them a King – a Messiah, as He was called back then, God's anointed King – in order to boot the Romans out and restore the kingdom of Israel, to set God's people free. After all, God had done it before. He'd set them free from captivity in Egypt. He'd set them free from captivity in Babylon. He'd set them free from the Seleucid Empire through the Maccabean Revolt only a century and a half before. That was their simplistic understanding of what should be going on. So there they were, business as usual. But something wasn't quite right, they were oppressed and that simply wasn't the way it should have been. They were being robbed of the freedom, the life that they knew they were entitled to as God's chosen people. Does that sound vaguely familiar to you? Does that sound like anyone that you know? Now, people back then were kind of expecting this Messiah to come. But when you and I used this term "Messiah" we think of Jesus, right? That's not who they were thinking about at all. They were thinking more about a strong warrior king, someone like King David of old who could muster an army, defeat the Romans and set the people free. After all, isn't that what God promised to David years before? 2 Samuel 7: 12 and 13, He said to David: When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors I will raise up your offspring after you who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. So in effect, they were looking in the wrong direction for a saviour because they misinterpreted what God was on about. They thought they were going to get another King David. Again a bit like, in fact a lot like people today, that's what was going on in the popular consciousness of ordinary people like those 'business as usual' shepherds back then and in many respects it's what's going on in the popular consciousness of ordinary people today. People are looking for someone or something to set things right. They know that life is not all it should be so they turn to money or career or reputation or luxury or holidays or friends, you name it. They turn to it expecting "it" to make things better but it never does. People have been looking in the wrong direction for a Saviour for thousands of years just like those shepherds and then God breaks into the world with such power and with such might and in such a surprising way that we can't even begin to imagine what He's up to. Luke 2: 8-14: In that region were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night then an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified but the angel said to them, 'don't be afraid for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is the Messiah, the Lord. This Messiah, this Saviour, He wasn't what they expected Him to be – He still isn't what we expect Him to be. What are you expecting Jesus to be? As we roll inexorably towards Christmas, yet again, what are you expecting to discover or are you so busy looking in a different direction that you're going to miss this amazing surprise in Jesus? Or are you running away as I was for many years because like the shepherds I was kind of afraid? This idea of God breaking into history by becoming one of us is too startling and too incomprehensible to begin to make sense. Just listen with me quietly to what the angel went on to say to those startled, frightened, 'business as usual', confused shepherds. Luke 2: 15 – 20: This will be a sign for you, you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. And so ... When the angels had left them and gone into heaven the shepherds said to one another, 'let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place which the Lord has made known to us'. So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and a child lying in a manger. When they saw this they made known what had been told to them about this child and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told to them. (Luke 2: 15 – 20) Seems to me that you and I, like the shepherds, have a choice. We can continue to get on with business as usual, stay in our field and ignore Jesus. Or, we can go and check Him out for ourselves. The only question that I'd ask is this; so how well has your 'business as usual' worked out for you so far?

Daniel 11 covers a lot of history! This time we're covering Daniel 11:5-16; it discusses a war that begins between the King of the South and the King of the North. If we trace this throughout history, it looks like the Diadochi wars... Different sources list different generals as the 4 Generals who took over for Alexander the Great, but at the end of the day the important part is that the kingdom was split in to 4 regions, of which the Ptolemaic South and the Seleucid North became the most prominent, waging war against each other in the Diadochi wars until Rome took over. People Discussed:

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

While the name "Cleopatra" often conjures images of the famed Egyptian queen (Cleopatra VII), we're venturing even further back in time to uncover the captivating story of Cleopatra Syra, Cleopatra I. First, a princess of the vast Seleucid Empire, her life was a tapestry woven with political intrigue, familial strife, and a relentless pursuit of power once she was married off to the Ptolemies as a political pawn. Often overshadowed by her more renowned namesake, Cleopatra Syra's story is an incredible one: resilience, ambition, and the complexities of ruling in a world dominated by men. Join us on this episode of History for Weirdos as we shed light on this enigmatic figure. We'll explore her pivotal role in the Ptolemaic dynasty, her strategic marriages, and the challenges she faced navigating a court rife with conspiracies and betrayals. From her early years as a pawn in political games to her later reign marked by both triumphs and tragedies, Cleopatra Syra's life offers a fascinating glimpse into the often-overlooked corners of Hellenistic Egypt. - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch

The Parthians were heavyweights of ancient Mesopotamia. Hailing from what is now modern day Iran, they charged onto the scene by destroying the Seleucid Empire and became one of Rome's most formidable enemies. They are perhaps most famous for capturing Crassus - Rome's spider-like tycoon - at the Battle of Carrhae, and pouring gold down his throat. But what else do we know about them?In today's episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Adrian Goldsworthy to explore who the Parthians really were, to delve into what the sources can tell us about them, and to discover how these horse-warriors managed to forge a superpower-like empire that stretched from the northern reaches of the Euphrates to the Hindu Kush.  This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Max Carrey.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code ANCIENTS - sign up here.Vote for The Ancients in the Listeners Choice category of British Podcast Awards here.You can take part in our listener survey here.

*We had some major connection gremlins during recording, but please stick with it. Lots of great information is incoming from Terry.*   This week we welcome back author and historian, Terry Boardman. A deep dive into the historical context of the foundation of the State Of Israel is on the menu. Geo-politics, spiritual warfare and the hidden esoteric hand are areas we hope to explore and elucidate.   Follow Terry's work here: Website - https://threeman.org/ From the web: The foundation of the State of Israel is a fascinating story that spans millennia. Here's a brief overview: Ancient Roots: The roots of modern Israel can be traced back to ancient times when the Israelites established a united kingdom under King Saul around 1020 BCE. However, internal strife and external pressures led to the division of this kingdom into two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Over the centuries, the region witnessed a series of conquerors, from the Persians to the Greeks under Alexander the Great, followed by the Seleucid Empire. Roman Period and Jewish-Roman Wars: By 63 BCE, the Romans had annexed Judea, making it a province of the Roman Empire. The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE by the Roman legions was a devastating blow. A subsequent revolt, the Bar Kokhba rebellion (132-136 CE), further diminished Jewish autonomy in the region. Spread of the Jewish Diaspora: Following these events, the Jewish diaspora spread across the Mediterranean and beyond, but a Jewish presence remained in Palestine throughout the subsequent centuries. Islamic Rule and Ottoman Empire: The rise of Islam in the 7th century CE brought new rulers to the region, including the Umayyad and later the Abbasid Caliphates. Over the next millennium, control of the region shifted among various empires, including the Crusaders, the Mamluks, and the Ottomans. Zionism and the Call for Return: In the late 19th century, the Zionist movement emerged, seeking to establish a national homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine. The term “Zionism” derives from “Zion,” symbolising the entire Promised Land. The Holocaust during World War II strengthened Jewish determination. Declaration of the State of Israel: On May 14, 1948, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum and proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. David Ben-Gurion, leader of the Jewish National Council, read out the proclamation, declaring the first independent Jewish state in nineteen centuries of history. The infant state faced immediate challenges, including war with the Arab League and invasions by three Arab armies. And so, the long-cherished Zionist dream became a reality, marking a pivotal moment in Jewish history   #history #zionism #israel _______________________________ Follow us here: https://allmylinks.com/the-amish-inquisition Signup for the newsletter, join the community, follow us online, and most importantly share links!  Producer Credits for Ep 328:  Producers - Rhona Kesson, Ben Limmer, Mat Chinn, Aliyah, Helen, General Lee and last weeks artist - Lee. _______________________________ Leave us a voicemail: 07562245894 Message us here....follow, like, subscribe and share. (comments, corrections, future topics etc). We read out iTunes reviews if you leave them. 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fWotD Episode 2509: Attalus I Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.The featured article for Monday, 18 March 2024 is Attalus I.Attalus I (Ancient Greek: Ἄτταλος), surnamed Soter (Greek: Σωτήρ, "Savior"; 269–197 BC) was the ruler of the Ionian Greek polis of Pergamon (modern-day Bergama, Turkey) and the larger Pergamene Kingdom from 241 BC to 197 BC. He was the adopted son of King Eumenes I, whom he succeeded, and was the first of the Attalid dynasty to assume the title of king, sometime around 240 to 235 BC. He was the son of Attalus and his wife Antiochis.Attalus won an important victory, the Battle of the Caecus River, over the Galatians, a group of migratory Celtic tribes from Thrace, who had been plundering and exacting tribute throughout most of Asia Minor for more than a generation. The victory was celebrated with a triumphal monument at Pergamon (The Dying Gaul) and Attalus taking the name of "Soter" and the title of king. He participated in the first and second Macedonian Wars against Philip V of Macedon as a loyal ally of the Roman Republic, although Pergamene participation was ultimately rather minor in these wars. He conducted numerous naval operations throughout the Aegean, gained the island of Aegina for Pergamon during the first war and Andros during the second, twice narrowly escaping capture at the hands of Philip V. During his reign, Pergamon also repeatedly struggled with the neighboring Seleucid Empire to the east, resulting in both successes and setbacks.Attalus styled himself as a protector of the freedoms of the Greek cities of Anatolia and portrayed himself as the champion of Greeks against barbarians. He funded art and monuments in Pergamon and in Greek cities he sought to cultivate as allies. He died in 197 BC at the age of 72, shortly before the end of the second war, having suffered an apparent stroke while addressing a Boeotian war council some months before. He and his wife Apollonis were admired for their rearing of their four sons. He was succeeded as king by his son Eumenes II.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:55 UTC on Monday, 18 March 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Attalus I on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Arthur Neural.

Full Show NotesRoman Parallel – Titus FlamininusImportant PeopleEpaminondas – A personal hero of Philopoemen's; he can imitate him in nearly everything except his calmness (cf. Section 3). Epaminondas sets a high water mark for Theban military and political power which Philopoemen is not able to replicate with Megalopolis.Nabis – Spartan tyrantMachanidas – Spartan tyrant who dies in an epic one-v-one against Philopoemen. Antigonus III Doson of Macedon (263-221 BC) – Second to last Macedonian King, winner of the battle of Sellasia, and the same guy whose death was reported towards the end of the Life of Cleomenes. Philip V of Macedon (238-179 BC) – The last Roman king, whose defeat we will see in the Life of Aemilius Paulus Antiochus III of Seleucid Empire (241 – 187 BC) –Titus Flamininus – This pair of biographies marks the only time Plutarch chose to compare contemporaries. While the Roman certainly outshines the Greek, Plutarch wants to emphasize that it's only because Titus out-Greeks (the virtues of human excellence, which the Greeks saw themselves originally as the sole source and only practicioners of) the Greeks while also out-Romaning them (i.e. larger, more disciplined, better supplied, better trained armies)Important PlacesMegalopolis – Philopoemen's hometown, and one that sees itself as the countebalance to Spartan hegemony in the Peloponnesus. Generally, the leaders of the Achaean League come from this city, the most famous of whom is, of course, Philopoemen. Sparta – Cleomenes is king while Philopoemen is a young man, but soon Sparta will fall to greedy tyrants the last of whom will negotiate peace not with Philopoemen, but with the Romans. Gythium – Philopoemen takes this key Spartan port through a  marine maneuver that earns him much acclaim. This it he same Spartan port through which Cleomenes escaped to Egypt. Messene – The next-door neighbor, and longtime subjugated polis, of Sparta. Philopoemen will free them, but their revolt towards the end of his life is the beginning of his undoing. Key Vices and VirtuesContentiousness (φιλονεικία) – A contentious word in the Greek, since it differs by only one letter from a love of victory (φιλονικία). Nevertheless, Philopoemen has a cantankerous outer shell that many find off-putting. Some come across that way, but we should be encourage by this life to look under the outer shell and see the character inside.Anger (ὀργῆ) – It seems at time Philopoemen is motivated by anger more than justice. While Plutarch seems to overlook this flaw, it's an interesting one to note as Plutarch thought it has no place in the virtuous life. Pausanias (Description of Greece) – Background of PhilopoemenSupport the show

The holiday of Chanukah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked. NOTE: This Podcast […]

The holiday of Chanukah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabean Revolt over the oppressive regime of Antiochus IV and the Seleucid Empire. In this podcast we tell the story of this miraculous victory of the weak over the mighty; the few over the many; the pure over the impure; and the righteous over the wicked.NOTE: This Podcast was originally recorded in 2017.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

The defeat at the Battle of Magnesia brings the war between Antiochus III and the Roman Republic to a close. Forced to evacuate all territory north of the Taurus Mountains and saddled with an enormous indemnity, Antiochus' career comes to an abrupt end in Elymais after an unprecedented 35 years on the throne, leaving the Seleucid Empire at a crossroads for the coming generations. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2023/12/05/093-the-seleucid-empire-the-peace-of-apamea/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/093-the-seleucid-empire-the-peace-of-apamea-transcript.pdf) Reign of Antiochus III - Family Tree: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/reign-of-antiochus-iii-part-2.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Every year around the world, millions of Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. This year, it's probably going to feel a little different. As ancient echoes of widespread anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, and anti-Zionism seem to be resounding again in the present time, the Jewish battle for survival against the Seleucid Empire finds its eerie, parallel expression in yet another conflict between Israel and her neighbors. Our guests today are First Fruits of Zion Senior Educator Aaron Eby and his wife, Rachel, and they're going to tell us all about Hanukkah. – Episode Highlights – What is Hanukkah? Is Hanukkah the Jewish Christmas? Candles, songs, prayers, menorahs, dreidels, latkes, sufganiyot, presents, and other traditions that enhance the holiday. The trick to frying the perfect latke. Food is such a central part of creating lasting memories. What does Hanukkah look like for a Messianic Jewish family? Traditional Jewish observance of the holliday. What historical event does Hanukkah recall? Why didn't the book of Maccabees make it into the Hebrew Bible? What would have happened if the Jews had not defeated the Greek army? How does Messianic faith in Yeshua enhance the holiday? How can followers of Yeshua who are not Jewish connect to the Jewish holiday? The oft repeated battle for the survival of Judaism and the Jewish people. What are the most meaningful elements of the holiday? – Related Resource Links – Light: A Hanukkah Anthology https://ffoz.store/products/light-a-hanukkah-anthology-book Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective. Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

On invitation from the Aetolian League, Antiochus III invades the Greek mainland in September 192 and declares war against the Roman Republic. Though he held many victories under his belt, Rome proved to be a fiercer opponent than anticipated, forcing Antiochus to go on the defensive and take the fight back to Asia. A final confrontation on the plains of Magnesia (modern Manisa) would determine who was to be the dominant power of the Hellenistic world. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2023/11/27/092-the-seleucid-empire-magnesia/) Episode Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2023/11/092-the-seleucid-empire-magnesia-transcript.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Patreon (https://patreon.com/TheHellenisticAgePodcast) Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

The rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem on November 21, 164bce (25 Kislev 3597) stands as a pivotal moment in Jewish history, marking both a spiritual and military triumph. This event, deeply entwined with the Maccabean Revolt, led to the establishment of Hanukkah, a festival celebrating Jewish resilience and faith. The Maccabean Revolt (167-160bce) was a Jewish uprising against the Seleucid Empire and the Hellenistic influence on Jewish life. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king, imposed strict bans on Jewish religious practices, leading to widespread discontent. The revolt was ignited when a rural Jewish priest, Mattathias, and his five sons, including Judah Maccabee, refused to worship Greek gods. This act of defiance sparked a widespread rebellion. Under the leadership of Judah Maccabee, the Jewish insurgents waged a guerrilla war against the Seleucids. By 164bce, they had achieved significant victories, culminating in the recapture of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Temple, desecrated by the Seleucids who had converted it into a shrine to Zeus, was in dire need of spiritual cleansing and rededication to restore its sanctity as the heart of Jewish worship. The rededication of the Temple was a profound moment of renewal for the Jewish people. According to the Talmud, when Judah Maccabee and his followers sought to relight the Temple's Menorah, they found only a small flask of oil, enough for one day. Miraculously, this oil burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare more oil. This miracle underscored not just a military victory but a spiritual resurgence, symbolizing the enduring light of Jewish faith against overwhelming odds. In commemoration of this miracle and the rededication of the Temple, the festival of Hanukkah was established. Hanukkah, meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, is celebrated for eight days in honor of the miraculous eight days the Menorah burned. It is a time of joy and gratitude, observed by lighting the menorah, reciting prayers, and reflecting on the themes of freedom and resilience. The rededication of the Temple and the events leading up to it are more than historical events; they are embodiments of the enduring spirit of a people striving to preserve their identity and faith against formidable challenges. The story of the Maccabean Revolt and the miracle of Hanukkah continue to inspire, symbolizing hope, courage, and the triumph of light over darkness. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plausibly-live/message

During the rule of the Seleucid Empire in the centuries before Christ's birth, many men and women of great faith arose who were unwilling to renounce their faith in God, despite the threat of martyrdom. Join Mary McGeehan and Dr. Elizabeth Klein as they break open the Scriptures to discuss the faith and fortitude of these pre-Christian saints: the Maccabean Martyrs. Help us share the truth and beauty of the Gospel and reach Catholics worldwide. Become an Augustine Institute Mission Circle Partner. Join the Mission Circle today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Show Notes Pillars of Strength Who was she? She appears in only one of the Gospels, the last of them, the Gospel of John, Chapter 4, in verses 4 through 42. It's not a synoptic Gospel, meaning that it does not have crossover material in the other Gospels. Jesus is going through Samaria with his disciples. He passes through a town called Sychar, and while his disciples go out to look for lunch, Jesus sat by a historic well, a well dug by the ancient Patriarch Jacob hundreds of years earlier. “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” … The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) This is the story of the woman at the well. She is not given a name in the Gospel, but in the Eastern Orthodox tradition she is called, “Photine.” She is a Samaritan, which, as we learned in an earlier episode, was a separate community who had some common beliefs with the Jews. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Jesus sounds almost impatient. He is thirsty, and hungry, and he is bantering with this woman who is showing her cultural prejudice. Her next statement is clearly a dig: “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” … Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Is she flirting with him? Does this pass as banter? The Gospel of John is different from the other three Gospels in that it includes these kinds of long, reconstructed conversations, and it certainly recalls, in Jewish history, the, “betrothal,” scenes of Issac, and Moses, who met their future wives at a well. The point seems to be that Jesus is up-ending those expectations. He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. “The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. I have always liked this line. Her response to his show of supernatural ability she replies, gobsmacked, “I can see that you are a prophet.” The encounter then takes a few more turns, including Jesus revealing to her that he is the expected Messiah. Here is the interesting thing about their interaction. Jesus does not expose her. He declares his mission to her. This is a pattern in the Gospel of John. He shows who he is openly, and people choose to reject or accept him. Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Here is another interesting point: The disciples, though surprised to find him talking to a woman, thought it was just something that he did. His actions were beyond questioning, and, his talking to women, the way he spoke to everyone else, was just something they had come to expect. Former Vice President , and current Presidential hopeful Mike Pence said that, in order to avoid any accusation of impropriety, does not eat alone with a woman, or attend events where alcohol is served, without his wife. That seems noble, on one level, but it speaks to a bigger problem. Are women so distracting that they are shunned and relegated to being lovers, wives, and mothers? Doesn't the problem start with men unable to control their thoughts and actions? Jesus didn't care. He knew that women are equal to men, and completely equal in the sight of God. He knew that women should look for their own salvation, not have a man direct them, or guide them through it. Compare this to Saint Paul, who says in 1 Corinthians 14:33–35: "As in all the congregations of the Lord's people. Women should remain silent in the churches, They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." Jesus is about equality. Women can come to God on their own, and, in this case, they can lead their husband, their whole village to salvation. That should have been the rule in the faith. Then again, there are some Christians who literally think they are holier than Christ… The More You Know Last time we discussed Hell, a place that the broad diversity of Christianity will agree exists, in one way or another. We talked about how there is a difference of opinion on whether or not it is eternal, or even what it is, but it is a part of the faith. A theological or moral necessity, though not in the way we expect. Today we are looking at an idea from the Catholic Church, the concept of Purgatory. The recent edition of Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Purgatory this way: Purgatory is the state of those who die in God's friendship, assured of their eternal salvation, but who still have need of purification to enter into the happiness of heaven. Because of the communion of saints, the faithful who are still pilgrims on earth are able to help the souls in purgatory by offering prayers in suffrage for them, especially the Eucharistic sacrifice. They also help them by almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance. The idea was that some people are part of the faith, but die unconfessed, or died with some unfinished perfecting to do. Heaven allows no sin or uncleanness, so a Christian goes to an intermediate state, purging the last of their earthly sins, before joining the righteous in heaven. Where does this idea come from? The Book of Maccabees, the Apocryphal book that describes the jewish who wrestled the Kingdom of Judah away from their Greek overlords during the Seleucid Empire, establishing their own rule from 167 to 37 BCE. The story of four brothers, fighting off impossible odds, their bravery in battle, their single-minded devotion to not allowing their faith and culture to be erased by Greek ideas, is exciting reading. Eight books in all, but the first two books are considered canonical by the Catholic Church. In the Second book of the Maccabees, there is a story where Judah discovers that some of his soldiers, loyal patriots, had died while wearing pagan amulets, good -luck charms for protection in battle. Judah orders sacrifices held to purge them of their lack of faith in the afterlife. The idea was common in Judaism by that age, and was incorporated into early Christianity. It is mentioned by Saint Paul, when he mentions praying for Onesiphorus, a member of the Church who has passed on. The church outside of Catholicism, has rejected the idea of Purgatory. High church doctrines in Orthodox, and Anglican communions, have similar ideas, namely the process of Glorification, by which the soul is extended God's grace and makes the final step into sanctification. Some Christian Churches will accept the idea of prayers for the dead, but not the idea of suffering for righteousness. The idea of Purgatory is expressed most beautifully in the image of the Anima Sola. A figure that started in Italian Catholicism, and became popular in Latin American Catholicism, where it became a figure that spoke to the oppressed and colonized: A woman, breaking free of her chains, looking upward through the burning flames of Purgatory. The image is so evocative that it is included in over syncretic faiths, like Santeria. What do you think? Is the idea of further suffering after death, even for the righteous, simply adding to the terror of death? Find us on Twitter: @WithoutWorksPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withoutworks Email @ withoutworkspod@gmail.com Our Internet home: www.withoutworkspodcast.com

In the series finale following the life of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer", Gil Kidron joins me to discuss the Maccabean Revolt broadening from a religious conflict into a war of independence. With Judah reshaping his guerrilla force into a veritable Hebrew field army, daring to take on the superior armies of the Seleucid Empire in pitched battle. Initially meeting with a grave setback, followed by Judah's greatest battlefield victory. The prelude to his death in a heroic last stand that would inspire the revolt to continue beyond his lifetime, eventually achieving the dream of Judean independence in 140 BC.   If you would like to support my work directly, you can kindly do so here: patreon.com/warlordsofhistory  Check out A Podcast of Biblical Proportions: podcastofbiblicalproportions.com

Gil Kidron from A Podcast of Biblical Proportions joins me to bring you the incredible story of Judah Maccabee "The Hammer". A Hebrew priest, turned guerilla warlord, who would win spectacular battlefield victories in an unexpectedly fierce rebellion against the mighty Seleucid Empire in the 160s BC called the Maccabean Revolt. A conflict with its origins laying in bitter Judean factionalism, between those embracing Hellenism versus ardent Hebrew traditionalists. Smoldering resentment that erupted into bloody civil violence due to the meddling of the erratic Seleucid King Antiochus IV.    If you would like to support my work directly, you can kindly do so here: patreon.com/warlordsofhistory  Check out A Podcast of Biblical Proportions: podcastofbiblicalproportions.com  

BIBLIOGRAFÍA Arminda Lozano, Los Seléucidas y sus sistemas de control territorial, Universidad Complutense Paola Ceccarelli, Seleucid Empire, University College London (UK) Rolf Strootman, Seleucid Empire, The Classical Review, Utrecht University, 2010 Paul J. Kosmin, The Land of the Elephant Kings, Space Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire, Harvard University Press, 2014, London (UK) J. Manuel Aldea Celada, Apolo y los seleúcidas o la construcción de una identidad dinástica, Universidad de Salamanca, 2013 Peter Franz Mittag, Blood and Money. On the Loyalty of the Seleucid Army, Electrum Vol. 14, 2008, Cracovia (Polonia) Arturo Sánchez Sanz, Después de Alejandro el Grande, el Desarrollo de las Tácticas Bélicas griegas en el Imperio Seléucida Nicholas Sekunda, Macedonian Armies after Alezander 323-168 BC., Met-at-Arms, Osprey Publishing, 2012 REDES SOCIALES Y OTROS CANALES -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY94tWHv81UixGZLXY8plOg -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliophilos/​ -Twitter: @HistCliophilos​ -Gmail: cliophilos@gmail.com -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cliophilos

In Romans 12, Paul exhorts us not to be conformed to this world. That is what Hanukkah is all about. It expresses the refusal of the Jewish people to be converted into something that was against the will of God and against the teachings of God. We as believers in Yeshua (Jesus) should have the same resistance to the culture that is set to move us away from the Scriptures, away from our Christian values, and convert us to a different way of life. Hanukkah is not a substitute for Christmas. It is an observance very applicable to Christianity today.   Show Notes: Many people think that Hanukkah is just a celebration for Jewish people to compete with Christmas during December. That is not true. Hanukkah existed before the celebration of Christmas. It is a historically based and scripturally based event that was observed by Yeshua (Jesus). Biblically, Hanukkah is referred to as the Feast of Dedication because it celebrates the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt when the Jews recaptured Jerusalem, recaptured the Temple, and purified it from its defilement.   At a time when Israel was under the suppression of the Seleucid Empire, Antiochus IV (known as Epiphanes) determined to wipe out all the practices and beliefs of the Jewish people and replace them with the paganism of the Greek people. A small band of Jewish men and women who refused to be Hellenized and converted into pagans rose up and fought against the armies of the Greeks and won, taking Jerusalem, and cleansing and rededicating the Temple. This spirit is what Hanukkah celebrates.   That is why I think it is important for Christians to celebrate Hanukkah. To celebrate Hanukkah is to follow after those who refused to be converted to the paganism of the Greek culture. We likewise should refuse the demands of today's culture and the pressures of society that would force us to deny our faith and convert us to the paganism of today's world, which is quickly abandoning the Scriptures, abandoning morals, abandoning pure thought, and the right ways of life. We, as believers in Christ, along with the Jewish people, should shine as a light on a hill, as those who hold forth the Word of God and the promises of God and the prophecies to come.   Key Verses:   John 10:22-23. “At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple.” Romans 12:1-2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Matthew 5:11-16. “You are the light of the world. … Let your light shine before men.” Matthew 24:22. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved.”   Quotes:   “We are the salt of the earth. We are to be the light. And that is what you can say about those who participated in the Maccabean Revolt, that refused to be removed off of their faith.” “We are believers, and we are not to be conformed to this world. We are not to be conformed to its cultures, its beliefs, and its ways of life when they are contrary to God and to His Word.” “Let us rededicate and purify everything that has been touched and destroyed during these days under the attempts of satan to bring about his purpose.”   Takeaways:   Hanukkah reminds us that as believers, we are not to be conformed to this world. We are not to be conformed to its cultures, its beliefs, and its ways of life when they are contrary to God and to His Word. Hanukkah reminds us that we are to be a light to this world—we should shine brightly as a light on a hill. We cannot let our light go out, and we certainly cannot live in fear and intimidation and hide our light under a bushel basket. Hanukkah reminds us that we are the salt of the earth. What we are to do today is preserve the culture of the Kingdom of God. We are to preserve the ways of God. We are to preserve the love and the Word of God in this day and age. Hanukkah reminds us that we must put our faith into service. Like the ancient Maccabees, we must go in and cleanse the Temple—to rededicate and purify everything that has been touched and destroyed as satan has attempted to bring about his purposes in our world.

Más allá del limes - El imperio seléucida 1: Historia de la dinastía --- https://youtu.be/niKrBUEg9S8 Más allá del limes - El imperio seléucida 2: El retorno del rey y la diplomacia con la India --- https://youtu.be/5D7wJnlt8n0 BIBLIOGRAFÍA Arminda Lozano, Los Seléucidas y sus sistemas de control territorial, Universidad Complutense Paola Ceccarelli, Seleucid Empire, University College London (UK) Rolf Strootman, Seleucid Empire, The Classical Review, Utrecht University, 2010 Paul J. Kosmin, The Land of the Elephant Kings, Space Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire, Harvard University Press, 2014, London (UK) J. Manuel Aldea Celada, Apolo y los seleúcidas o la construcción de una identidad dinástica, Universidad de Salamanca, 2013 Peter Franz Mittag, Blood and Money. On the Loyalty of the Seleucid Army, Electrum Vol. 14, 2008, Cracovia (Polonia) Arturo Sánchez Sanz, Después de Alejandro el Grande, el Desarrollo de las Tácticas Bélicas griegas en el Imperio Seléucida Nicholas Sekunda, Macedonian Armies after Alezander 323-168 BC., Met-at-Arms, Osprey Publishing, 2012 REDES SOCIALES Y OTROS CANALES -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY94tWHv81UixGZLXY8plOg -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliophilos/​ -Twitter: @HistCliophilos​ -Gmail: cliophilos@gmail.com -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cliophilos

BIBLIOGRAFÍA Arminda Lozano, Los Seléucidas y sus sistemas de control territorial, Universidad Complutense Paola Ceccarelli, Seleucid Empire, University College London (UK) Rolf Strootman, Seleucid Empire, The Classical Review, Utrecht University, 2010 Paul J. Kosmin, The Land of the Elephant Kings, Space Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire, Harvard University Press, 2014, London (UK) J. Manuel Aldea Celada, Apolo y los seleúcidas o la construcción de una identidad dinástica, Universidad de Salamanca, 2013 Peter Franz Mittag, Blood and Money. On the Loyalty of the Seleucid Army, Electrum Vol. 14, 2008, Cracovia (Polonia) Arturo Sánchez Sanz, Después de Alejandro el Grande, el Desarrollo de las Tácticas Bélicas griegas en el Imperio Seléucida Nicholas Sekunda, Macedonian Armies after Alezander 323-168 BC., Met-at-Arms, Osprey Publishing, 2012 REDES SOCIALES Y OTROS CANALES -Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY94tWHv81UixGZLXY8plOg -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliophilos/​ -Twitter: @HistCliophilos​ -Gmail: cliophilos@gmail.com -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cliophilos

Despite the defeat at Raphia, Antiochus III was not discouraged from further conquests. After dealing with his final rival Achaeus in 213, the Seleucid king would lead a massive expeditionary force into Asia, an anabasis, intending to assert his authority over the wayward satrapies and kingdoms that splintered away during the troubled reigns of his predecessors. Marching from Armenia to India between 212-205, Antiochus and his army would battle the likes of Arsaces II of Parthia and Euthydemus I of Greco-Bactria as they restored the borders of the empire, allowing Antiochus to claim the epithet Megas (the Great) as a testament to his power. Episode 073 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/06/04/073-the-seleucid-empire-the-anabasis-of-antiochus-the-great/) Episode 073 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/073-the-seleucid-empire-the-anabasis-of-antiochus-iii.pdf) Family Tree: The Reign of Antiochus III (Part One) (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/06/reign-of-antiochus-iii-part-1-1.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Romans 5:6-8 compares Jesus' dying for us to another person dying for someone else. The point here is that while *maybe* someone would die for a righteous and good man, Jesus died for *sinners.* These verses are comparing Jesus' death for us to anyone's death for another. The striking thing from Paul's perspective is that Jesus died for sinners as opposed to dying for the righteous, acknowledging that some might die for the righteous. The very fact that Jesus' death for us is comparable to the death of one person for another can certainly help us understand what Jesus did for us on the cross. Consider this, the things people assume that it must mean to say "Jesus died for you" aren't assumed when we hear about people dying for other people. In fact, it's common to think that Jesus dying for us is actually not comparable to ordinary humans dying for other humans. But Romans 5:6-8 says it is comparable. In this video, we see what we can learn by considering the example of someone who died for others. About 200 years before Jesus' ministry, Judea was ruled by the Seleucid Empire, and its king at the time, a man named Antiochus IV Epiphanes, terribly persecuted the Jews. His persecutions included forbidding the Sabbath, forcing Jews to eat unclean meats, and compelling everyone to adopt Greek ways. Those who remained faithful to God were tortured and put to death. Some who were martyred at that time become famous among the Jews as models of steadfast obedience to God even in face of death. It is probably to these martyrs that the author of Hebrews refers to at the end of Hebrews 11 when he says, "Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection." As you'll see, this was the experience of a man named Eleazar, whose martyrdom is recorded in books such as 2nd and 4th Maccabees. We also look at Colossians 1:24-26 where Paul says he was filling up what was lacking in the afflictions of Christ. This doesn't mean that Jesus' death is insufficient to save us, but obviously, many who even know what Jesus did for them harden their hearts and go on in sin anyway. This means that what Jesus was accomplishing through his afflictions hadn't fully accomplished its desired outcome and Paul's afflictions could actually accomplish the same thing as Jesus' afflictions. This also informs us of how Jesus' death can save us. For a deeper study, see: "The Truth of Sacrifice" - Oct. 1, 2015 - Trent Wilde (FOT'15 S3) https://youtu.be/0YOcg3kd74Q "Q&A Why Jesus Came and Died (Romans 5)" - June 18, 2016 - Trent Wilde https://youtu.be/85lVLF0w6qQ "Justification by Faith - A Sinless Life?" - Trent Wilde https://youtu.be/7YGsaSd-mq A Visit our podcast, "Sabbath School With Branch Davidians," at: https://branchsabbathschool.libsyn.com Sabbath School Q2 2022: Genesis - Week 8 A Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist perspective on the Sabbath School lesson. www.bdsda.com Email us at bdsdalit@gmail.com for comments and literature requests.

In 222 B.C., two of the world's most powerful kingdoms saw the coronation of two young monarchs: Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire, and Ptolemy IV Philopator of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. As Antiochus tries to keep his realm from falling apart in the face of rebellions and the assassination of his older brother, the laziness of Ptolemy allows the court of Alexandria to fall into a whirlwind of conspiracies and corruption among his advisors, serving as a dramatic prelude to the Fourth Syrian War. Episode 071 Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2022/05/06/071-the-fourth-syrian-war-a-tale-of-two-kingdoms/) Episode 071 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/071-the-fourth-syrian-war-a-tale-of-two-kingdoms-transcript.pdf) Intelligent Speech Conference 2022 Website (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/Intellspeechcon) Promo Code: AGE Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Judah Maccabee is on shaky ground. With a growing army of devoted fanatics, Judah has taken control of Jerusalem and cleansed the Second Temple of the ongoing abominations it suffered under control of the Hellenizers. But while his position looks stronger than ever, Judah's army was only able to withstand the wrath of the Seleucid Empire because of a crisis: the King is dead. In the last episode of the Hammer of Hanukkah, we find out how the Maccabees handle the next generation of Seleucid leadership. And, we learn the ultimate fate of Judah Maccabee. 

At its height, the Seleucid Empire stretched from Thrace (modern day Bulgaria) to the Indus River Valley. Emerging from the tumultuous ‘Successor Wars' that followed Alexander the Great's passing, for over a century it was a superpower of the eastern Mediterranean. This, however, ultimately led it into conflict with Rome at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The result was a devastating defeat for the Seleucid King Antiochus III ‘the Great' at the Battle of Magnesia, fought around this time of year in either December 190 BC or January 189 BC. Following the battle, the Seleucids were humbled by a damaging treaty, but what happened next? What followed for the Seleucids, having been humbled by the Romans? Did they descend from superpower to suppliant? Or did they experience a resurgence? In today's podcast, Eduardo Garcia-Molina, a PHD Classics student at the University of Chicago, argues the latter. Focusing in on the reign of Antiochus IV, Eduardo highlights how the Seleucid Empire remained a powerful entity in the wake of Magnesia and their Roman defeat.If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hithttps://access.historyhit.com/?utm_source=audio&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Podcast+Campaign&utm_id=PodcastTo download, go to Android or Apple store:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyhit&hl=en_GB&gl=UShttps://apps.apple.com/gb/app/history-hit/id1303668247If you're enjoying this podcast and looking for more fascinating The Ancients content then subscribe to our Ancients newsletter. Follow the link here:https://www.historyhit.com/sign-up-to-history-hit/?utm_source=timelinenewsletter&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=Timeline+Podcast+Campaign See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Outline:IntroductionThe Last Days According to Ezekiel The Last Days According to HoseaThe Last Days According to DanielConclusionSaint Athanasius ChurchContra Mundum SwaggerVideo Version

The period from the signing of the Treaty of Lutatius in 241 until the siege of Saguntum in 219 is often passed over by those learning about the Punic Wars, but it is integral to understanding how the Romans and Carthaginians went to battle once again. Rome fought to stem the tide of Celtic warbands invading from Northern Italy, whereas Carthage faced an existential crisis with the Mercenary War (241-237) before its rescue by Hamilcar Barca. Hamilcar and his clan then expanded into Spain, building a powerbase which enabled his son Hannibal to challenge the Romans for supremacy in one of the greatest conflicts in antiquity. Show Links Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2021/11/11/066-antigonid-macedon-philip-v-and-the-social-war/) Episode 067 Transcript: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/067-rome-and-carthage-between-the-punic-wars-transcript.pdf) Mithridates VI of Pontus with Flashpoint History: (https://youtu.be/nACLiBWUvGQ) A Reader's Guide to the Seleucid Empire: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/seleucid-reading-guide-pdf-2.pdf) A Reader's Guide to Ptolemaic Egypt: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/ptolemaic-reading-guide-pdf-1.pdf) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

Thanks to his role in the Maccabean Revolt, Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire played an important part in the history of Judaism. From the prophecies of Daniel to the histories of Josephus, Dr. Joseph Scales joins the show to talk about the perception of Antiochus IV in the Jewish literary tradition, viewed as both an incompetent ruler and great persecutor, and the prototype of the Antichrist. Episode Notes: (https://hellenisticagepodcast.wordpress.com/2021/11/29/interview-antiochus-iv-epiphanes-in-the-jewish-tradition-w-dr-joseph-scales/) Dr. Joseph Scales Links: Ancient Afterlives Podcast (https://anchor.fm/ancientafterlives) Twitter (https://twitter.com/josephdscales) Humanities Commons (https://hcommons.org/members/josephscales/) Social Media: Twitter (https://twitter.com/HellenisticPod) Facebook (www.facebook.com/hellenisticagepodcast/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hellenistic_age_podcast/) Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/hellenisticagepodcast) Show Merchandise: Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/HellenisticAgePod) Redbubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/HellenisticPod/shop?asc=u) Donations: Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/hellenisticagepodcast) Amazon Book Wish List (https://tinyurl.com/vfw6ask)

The Maccabees Uprising . 167-160 B. C. In my class on Religion and Politics I had students study two uprisings rooted in religious communities.  One was the Maccabeean uprising against the Seleucid Empire and the other was Osama bin Laden.  This podcast is on the Maccabees.  There will soon be a podcast on Osama bin Laden. Thinking of these two uprisings in comparative and analytical terms, leaving aside your preferences, yields valuable insights. A word about these texts.  The word “canon” means the official books of the Bible.  The canon was closed about 300 years before the birth of Christ.  Jonah was the last-added book.  To Christians, the canon was re-opened with the gospels.  To Jews, it is still closed.  But between the closing of the canon and the birth of Christ, there was a lot of history and a lot of teaching, and a lot of writing.  The books that emerged during that time are called The Apocrypha, a word that means both hidden and unfolding.  They are in the Catholic Bible but not in the Protestant or Jewish canons.  The Jewish leaders of that time were worried about revolutionaries who claimed to be prophets and would produce revealed books to prove it.  They had a rule that if you are a prophet you must perform a miracle in the presence of a minyan (10 righteous people).  Otherwise, there were severe penalties. (Those familiar with the Gospels will recall times when "the Jews," i.e., a minyan, would ask Jesus to perform a miracle). To avoid these problems, books would be written in mystical styles with spirits and creatures and miracles.  They would also be placed well into the past, as if they had been “rediscovered.”  The book of Daniel was of that style, being placed hundreds of years in the past.  There is a word pseudepigrapha that means falsely attributed.  It does not mean false.  It is as if you wanted to write a book on politics today and presented it in the form of a secret diary of George Washington.  After about ten pages any reader would realize this is not George Washington at all but a commentary on today's political situation.  A couple of thousand years later, people might not get that point.  When you read Daniel and his troubles with an oppressive ruler who is abusing believers, you need to realize that this is really about a contemporary leader.  Except the author does not want to be arrested.  Also during that time the writings would use metaphors and codes.  Everyone at the time knew what those things meant, but today we often read them as if they are somehow factual, or even as predictions of future events.  That was how I was brought up.  In the discussion of Maccabees II we will discuss some examples of this style and what it means.  Remember, the authors knew what they meant, and so did everyone at the time who read those texts. I thought about breaking this into two podcasts, Maccabees I and Maccabees II, but left it in one.  It's a bit long, but it covers all the bases. Suggestion:  You might download the books of Maccabees I and Maccabees II so you can follow along with the discussion.  You might even read them in advance if you wish. Or just lean back and enjoy yourself. People:  Tobias, Mattathias, Antiochus Epiphanies, Ptolemy, Seleucid, Onias, Heliodorus, Judah Maccabees. Terms and places:   Galilee, Samaria, Judea, Syria, pseudepigrapha, canon, Cohen, zealot, gymnasium, Shema, phalanx, Hasid, Hellenism, Hanukkah, Apocrypha, Torah, Modein. 

In this episode I am joined by Dr. Gerrard who brilliantly guides us into the origins and establishment of the Seleucid Kingdom and its armies. We explore the cavalry of the Seleucid Empire but more importantly we explore its Cataphracts from a variety of topics such as what was the general ethnic makeup of these units? What weapons did the typically fight with? What does archaeology and primary sources tell us about these troops? What would it have been like to fight with and against these mounted soldiers and how were they typically used on these ancient battlefields? From equipment to the men and their horses we explore a world long since forgotten. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antiquity-middlages/support

After rampaging his way around the closer eastern provinces, Seleucus' peace deal with Antigonus allowed him to gaze further east and start greedily dreaming about conquest further afield. On the podcast today, we will see Seleucus copy both Alexander the Great and the Persians by invading India. But, as we saw in episode 4, he doesn't face the disunited political scene that they did. It's time for the Seleucids and the Maurya to butt heads... Sources for this episode: 1) Bevan, E. R. (1902), the House of Seleucus, Vol. I. London: Edward Arnold. 2) Cooke, F., Dingle, H., Hutchinson, S., McKay, G., Schodde, R., Tait, R. and Vogt, R. (2008), The Encyclopedia of Animals: A Complete Visual Guide. Sydney: Weldon Own Pty Ltd. 3) Hirst, K. K., ThoughtCo (updated 2018), The Mauryan Empire Was the First Dynasty to Rule Most of India (online) [Accessed 13/01/2021]. 4) Komnene, A. (c.1148), the Alexiad. Translated by Sewter, E. R. A. (1969). London: Penguin Classics, Penguin Books Ltd. 5) Kosmin, P. J. (2014), The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. (eBook) [Accessed 03/04/2021]. 6) Szczepanski, K., ThoughtCo (updated 2019), Biography of Chandragupta Maurya, Founder of the Mauryan Empire (online) [Accessed 13/01/2021]. 7) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Megasthenes' Herakles (online) [Accessed 14/01/2021]. 8) Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Seleucus I Nicator (online) [Accessed 10/01/2021].

Seleucus, now decidedly province-less, flees to Egypt and holes up with Ptolemy. There, he gets himself appointed as commander in chief of Ptolemy's fleet in the eastern Mediterranean, cooperating with Ptolemy's brother Menelaus who was appointed as commander to forces dispatched to Cyprus. With the Third War of the Diadochoi going on in the background and with a bit of a foray into Egypt's situation and the Seleucid era calendar, it's time to get nautical…. Sources for this episode: 1) Anson, E. M. (2006), The Chronology of the Third Diadoch War. Phoenix 60(3/4): 226, 235. 2) Grainger, J. D., 2014, The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 3) Kosmin, P. J. (2014), The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. London: Harvard University Press. (eBook) [Accessed 03/04/2021]. 4) Lendering, J., Livius (2002, modified 2020), Diadochoi 5: The Third Diadoch War (online). [Accessed 03/01/2021]. 5) The central position of Babylon with the former empire can be seen at the Wikipedia page of the Diadochoi. 6) For more on the life of Menelaus, see his Wikipedia page [Accessed 27/03/2021].

Antipater's regency would be as short as it was rich in foreshadowing. With the appointment of Antigonus to try and flush out the pro-Perdiccas outlaws in Anatolia led by Eumenes, the groundwork was set for an eventual showdown between the satraps, who are increasingly shouldering off the burdens of the state. After all, with the king a minor, who's going to stop them? Sources for this episode: 1) Grainger, J. D., 2014, The Rise of the Seleukid Empire (323- 223 BCE), Seleukos I to Seleukos III. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. (eBook) [Accessed 04/01/2021]. 2) Kosmin, P. J. (2014), The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. London: Harvard University Press. (eBook) [Accessed 03/04/2021].

In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's conquests, the Seleucid kings ruled a vast territory stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, Armenia to the Persian Gulf. In a radical move to impose unity and regulate behavior, this Graeco-Macedonian imperial power introduced a linear and transcendent conception of time. Under Seleucid rule, time no longer restarted with each new monarch. Instead, progressively numbered years, identical to the system we use today—continuous, irreversible, accumulating—became the de facto measure of historical duration. This new temporality, propagated throughout the empire, changed how people did business, recorded events, and oriented themselves to the larger world. Challenging this order, however, were rebellious subjects who resurrected their pre-Hellenistic pasts and created apocalyptic time frames that predicted the total end of history. The interaction of these complex and competing temporalities led to far-reaching religious, intellectual, and political developments. Time and Its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire (Harvard University Press, 2018) by Paul J. Kosmin, John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, opens a new window onto empire, resistance, and the meaning of history in the ancient world. Ryan Tripp is an adjunct faculty member in history at Southern New Hampshire University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

— From this point of view, I can hardly wait until we get to the Emperors!Partial TranscriptHello, this is Abel, speaking from Beijing, China. Welcome to my podcast.The Tale of Rome, Episode 39 — State of the Union – 320 BC.This is our third episode of the State of the Union, and as I said in our episode 13, at this time we already have many of the styles, and other standards set, for this type of episodes.Slowly, but surely, these episodes — every 13th episode, will become tradition in this podcast.Alright. We find ourselves in the year 320 BC. just after the shameful defeat at the already famous Caudine Forks.So during this episode, we're going to divide our time into three sections, as follows:ONE — let's see what happened to those troops on their way to Rome, and what were the next events before closing that year.TWO — we're going to give our typical eagle flight around the world of Rome, just as we did in our episodes 13 and 26.AND THREE — let's do a quick review of the people who ruled Rome's fates, between the years 390 and 320 BC. just like we did last time.And as always, during this episode we won't have our segment of the Latin Word of the Week, so that's going to be left for our next REGULAR episode.Let's start now![…]He says that Alexander gave his ring to Perdicas, a bodyguard of his, nominating him as a successor, by doing so.Anyway, Perdicas did never try to get the throne, and instead, he said that the heir should be Roxanne's son, if he was born male. He also said, that the baby would have Crateros, Leonnatus, Antipater, and himself, as guardians, until the boy would grow up, and then govern by himself.Obviously, that plan was rejected. Perdicas was killed two years later.The unity of Macedonia collapsed, and 40 years of war erupted among the successors. These successors were now known, as the Diadochi. And at the end of that period, four clear blocks emerged. And for a time being, these blocks maintained some stability:Egypt belonged to the Ptolemy's.Mesopotamia became part of the upcoming Seleucid Empire.Anatolia went to Lysimachus.And finally, Macedonia went to Antigonus.

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the revolutionary Jewish leader Judas Maccabeus. Born in the second century BC, Judas led his followers, the Maccabees, in a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire, which was attempting to impose the Greek culture and religion on the Jews. After a succession of battles he succeeded and the Seleucid king granted the Jews religious freedom. But even after that freedom was granted the struggle for political independence continued, and it was not until twenty years after Judas's death that Judaea finally became an independent state. Thanks to an extensive, if often confused, historical record of these events, the story of the Maccabees is well known. Judas Maccabeus has become a celebrated folk hero, and one of his achievements, the restoration and purification of the Temple of Jerusalem after its desecration by the Seleucids, is commemorated every year at the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.With: Helen Bond, Senior Lecturer in the New Testament at Edinburgh University Tessa Rajak, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at the University of ReadingPhilip Alexander, Emeritus Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of ManchesterProducer: Natalia Fernandez.