Definition of: Antiochus

(an·tī′ə·kəs)
Name of thirteen kings of the Seleucid dynasty in Syria, third to first century B.C.
—Antiochus III,
242–187 B.C., conquered Egypt and much of the Near East; defeated by the Romans at Magnesia, 190 B.C.: known as Antiochus the Great.
—Antiochus IV,
died 163 B.C., attempted to suppress Judaism and brought on the Maccabean revolt: called “Epiphanes.”