Hyrcanus II

HYRCANUS II. - High priest and ethnarch-king of the Jews from 63 to 40 B.C.

He was the son of Alexander Jannaeus and Queen Alexandra, who during her reign (76-67) appointed him high priest. Of a timid and indolent nature, H. succeeded his mother in the kingdom, but only for three months; for, defeated by his dynamic younger brother, Aristobulus II (v.), he was forced to retire into private life, ceding the high priesthood and the kingdom to him. But shortly afterward, incited by the Idumean Antipater (v.), H. began rebellions against Aristobulus. In 65 B.C. the Roman legate Scaurus favored Aristobulus, who was subsequently opposed by Pompey. After the latter occupied Jerusalem (autumn of 63), Aristobulus was taken to Rome as a prisoner with his sons, while H. was appointed once again high priest and ethnarch (no longer king) of the Jews. But the true head of Judea was his protector Antipater, while Roman interference made itself increasingly felt.

Sad years followed for Palestine, torn by the revolts of Alexander, son of Aristobulus, then by those of Aristobulus himself, who in 56 had fled from Rome. Supported by the Romans and by Antipater, H. maintained a semblance of authority, which in practice was limited to the offices of the high priesthood. Gabinius, proconsul of Syria (57-55 B.C.), even took from him the title of ethnarch, which Julius Caesar later restored to him. In 40 Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, having joined the Parthians, had his uncle H. in his power, and cut off his ears to render him unfit for the liturgical office. When the Parthians withdrew from Palestine they took H. with them to Babylonia, from where Herod, as soon as he had established himself in the kingdom, made him return. But then in 30 B.C. he had him killed, thus suppressing the last Hasmonean.

Angelo Penna