Mattathias Antigonus, The Last Hasmonean King of Judea

40-37 BCE

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Pictured here is a copper alloy pruta coin with traces of the paleo-Hebrew inscription (מתתיה כהן גדל) Mattathias the High Priest, encircling the showbread table. On the reverse is a Greek inscription "of the king Antigonos" around the Temple Menorah.

Mattathias Antigonus was the son of Aristobulus II who was taken to Rome as a prisoner of Pompey in 63 BCE. Mattathias Antigonus was taken with his father but managed to escape in 57 BCE and returned to Judea. In 47 BCE, Antigonus appealed to Julius Caesar in Syria, claiming that his uncle Hyrcanus II was a puppet of Antipater the Idumaean but the petition fell on deaf ears. In 43 BCE, Antipater was poisoned, but his sons Herod and Phasael managed to retain power in Judea.

In 42 BCE, Antigonus attempted to take control of the government of Judea sending delegations of Jews to appeal to Mark Antony against Antipater’s sons Herod and Phasael, but again Antony sided with the Herodians.Their fate changed decidedly with the Parthian invasion in 40 BCE when Mattathias, the last of the Hasmonean princes who had long been seeking to reassert Hasmonean rule over Judea, formed an alliance with the fiercely anti-Roman Parthians, and regained the throne of his fathers. During the invasion, Phasael took his own life as Herod fled Jerusalem for the fortress of Masada.

Copper alloy pruta coin with traces of the palaeo-Hebrew inscription (מתתיה כהן גדל)
Mattathias the High Priest encircling the showbread table.

Reverse Greek inscription "of the king Anitgonos" around the Temple Menorah.

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Overview

Mattathias Antigonus (Antigonus II Mattathias) was the son of Aristobulus II. When Aristobulus II was carried to Rome as a prisoner of Pompey in 63 BCE, Mattathias Antigonus was carried with him. However, in 57 BCE, Mattathias Antigonus escaped and returned to Judea. In 47 BCE, Antigonus appealed to Julius Caesar in Syria, claiming that his uncle Hyrcanus II was a puppet of Antipater the Idumaean (father of Herod the Great) and in 42 BCE, he attempted to take control of the government of Judea. Embassies of Jews appealed to Mark Antony bringing accusations against Antipater’s sons Herod and Phasael. Mark Antony sided with the Herodians, and had members of the Jewish delegation put to death.

In 40 BCE, Mattathias formed an alliance with the fiercely anti-Roman Parthians and regained the throne of his fathers, as Herod fled Jerusalem for the fortress of Masada.