LYSIAS (Δυσίας). - A Syrian general, a nobleman in the service of the Seleucids. When Antiochus IV Epiphanes (v.) set out for the war against the Parthians (1 Macc. 3:31-33), he left L. at Antioch as regent and guardian of his minor son, who later became Antiochus V. He was also ordered to put down the rebellion of the Maccabees (v.). For this he charged the general Ptolemy, son of Dorymenes, who sent into Judea an army under the command of Nicanor and Gorgias. After these were defeated (1 Macc. 3:34-4:25) by Judas Maccabeus, L. undertook an armed reconnaissance, penetrating into Judea from Idumea. Defeated at Beth-zur, he interrupted the campaign with an armistice, returned to Antioch, where uncertain news was arriving about the death of the King, who had designated the general Philip as guardian of his son and regent.
Without taking this wish into account, L. proclaimed as king the nine-year-old (or twelve-year-old) Antiochus V (v.), calling him Eupator (1 Macc. 6:14-17), and undertook with him another expedition into Palestine. Penetrating once again from the south, he defeated Judas Maccabeus at Beth-zechariah, besieged Jerusalem, and conquered Beth-zur (1 Macc. 6:18-34).
Meanwhile, however, L. learned that the general Philip was attempting to supplant him in Antioch; he concluded peace with the Jews, defeated and killed Philip (1 Macc. 6:55-63; 2 Macc. 13:23), but was in turn killed together with Antiochus V, by order of Demetrius I, son of Seleucus IV Philopator, in 162 B.C. (cf. 2 Macc. 14:1 ff.).
Historians debate the number of L.'s expeditions into Palestine after the actual death of Antiochus Epiphanes. According to G. Ricciotti (op. cit., in bibl., II, p. 290), some "with little critical judgment" set the number at three, others "with too much critical judgment" at only one (cf. 2 Macc. 11:1-14:2).