The Maccabean Revolt Against Antiochus IV

A handful of farmers took down the ancient world’s deadliest empire using pure rage and guerrilla

tactics. Back in 167 BCE, King Antiochus IV was a total maniac who decided to cancel

Jewish culture. He banned their laws, trashed the Temple in Jerusalem,

and sacrificed pigs on the altar just to be disrespectful. He thought he could crush their spirit,

but he messed with the wrong family. An old priest named Mattathias refused to bow.

He took his five sons to the hills and started a revolution. His son, Judas,

earned the nickname The Hammer because he hit hard. They were facing massive armies with

war elephants, but they used the terrain to their advantage. They ambushed soldiers