ANTIGONO. - The name of two Jewish princes
of the Hasmonean dynasty.
1) Son of Giovanni Ircano I, born about 135 B.C.
After his father's death (105), he shared in the I (v.), who, as a result of a scandalous intrigue, had him killed in 104 (Flavio Giuseppe,
Antiq. Iud., XIII, 10, 2; 11, 1 ff.).
2) His Jewish name was Mattatia; II (v.), he was the last king of the Hasmoneans. He attained the throne, which he had previously coveted in vain,
with the help of the Parthians, who had invaded Judea,
and reigned from 40 to 37 B.C., in continual warfare
with the claimant Erode, proclaimed by the Roman
senate at Antonio's request. Assisted
by the Jews dwelling near Carmel, A., before
Pentecost of the year 40, entered Jerusalem and shut
Erode and his brother Fasaele within the royal fortress
of Baris; having gained possession of his uncle Giovanni Ircano II, who had imprudently gone with Fasaele to the camp of the Parthian commander,
he had his ears cut off in order to disqualify him from
the priestly dignity. Having become king, he assumed,
on his coins, the title of “high priest Mattatia, king A.”
He vainly expended his energies in besieging Giuseppe,
Erode's brother, in the fortress of Masada. When
Erode, appointed king, arrived with Roman troops, A., who had
bribed the Roman general Ventidio, brought the Parthians
back into Palestine. But Ventidio defeated the Parthians (8 June 38)
and received orders from Antonio to assist Erode. In October
of 37, on the Day of Atonement, Erode captured Jerusalem; A., descending from the fortress of Baris, begged
the Roman Sosio for his life, and would have retained it until Antonio's triumph
over the Parthians; but Erode obtained from Antonio that he should be beheaded in Antiochia (November 37 B.C.; Flavio Giuseppe, Antiq.
Iud., XIV, 4, 5 - 16, 4).