LISIA (Δυσίας). — Syrian general, nobleman in the service of the Seleucids. When Antioco IV Epifane (v.) departed for the war against the Parthians (I Mach. 3:31–33), he left L. in Antioch as regent and guardian of his minor son, who was later Antioco V. He was also ordered to suppress the rebellion of the Maccabees (v.). For this task he commissioned the general Tolomeo, son of Dorimene, who sent an army into Judea under the command of Nicanore and Gorgia. After these had been defeated (I Mach. 3:34–4:25) by Giuda Maccabeo, L. undertook
Idumea. Defeated at Bethsur, he interrupted the campaign
with an armistice and returned to Antioch, where
uncertain reports arrived concerning the King’s death, who had
appointed the general Filippo guardian of his son and regent.
Without taking this decision into account, L. proclaimed
the nine-year-old (or twelve-year-old) Antioco V (v.) king,
calling him Eupatore (I Mach. 6:14–17), and undertook with him another
expedition into Palestine. Entering once again from the south,
he defeated Giuda Maccabeo at Bethzachara, besieged Je-
rusalem, and conquered Bethsur (I Mach. 6:18–34).
Meanwhile, however, L. learned that the general Filippo was attempting
to supplant him in Antioch; he concluded peace with
the Jews, defeated and killed Filippo (I Mach. 6:55–63;
II Mach. 13:23), but was in turn killed together with Antioco V,
on the orders of Demetrio I, son of Seleuco IV Filopatore,
in 162 B.C. (cf. II Mach. 14:1 ff.).
Historians debate the number of L.’s expeditions into Palestine after the actual death of Antioco Epifane. According to G. Ricciotti (op. cit., in bibl., II, p. 290), some, “with little critical judgment,” place the number at three, while others, “with too much critical judgment,” place it at only one (cf. II Mach. 11:1–14:2).