No dynasty started with such heroism and ended so undistinguished as the Hasmonean line. Mattathias, patriarch of the Hasmonean dynasty led a revolt against the forced worship of Greek deities by the Greco-Syrians in 166 B.C. He died within a year, but the rebellion was led to victory by his son, Judas Maccabee (the “Hammer”). The temple was cleansed and worship reinstated. This rededication of the temple is still celebrated as Chanukah. Under the Hasmoneans, the rule of Judah and the office of the high priest were combined. 

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With the death of Alexander Jannai, Hyrcanus II—the fifth generation of the Hasmonean rulers—succeeded his father as high priest. His mother, Salome, retained political control of Judea, however. Upon her death, Hyrcanus’s younger brother, Aristobulus II, challenged his rule. Hyrcanus, indecisive and timid, retained Antipater—Herod’s father—as an advisor, increasing Herod’s authority during the ensuring civil war. In the end, the brothers signed a peace treaty, giving Aristobulus the crown and Hyrcanus the office of High priest. 

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As high priest, Hyrcanus retained Antipater as his administrator. Three years later, encouraged by Antipater, Hyrcanus attempted to regain the crown. Civil war again erupted. This time, a new interest existed in the eastern Mediterranean, that of Rome. Pompey, the Roman general, settled the matter by taking Jerusalem and removing Aristobulus II from the throne. He retained Hyrcanus as the high priest and made him Prince of Judea. Pompey gave Antipater the real governing authority, however. 

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As the Roman control of its eastern provinces waned, the Parthians invaded Syria, including Judea, in 40 B.C. Antigonus, a nephew of Hyrcanus II, joined the Parthians and was made the puppet king of Judea and high priest. He exiled Hyrcanus to Babylon and castrated him to ensure that he could never recover power by regaining the office of high priest. 

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With the defeat of the Parthians by Rome, Herod, the son of Antipater, would be made king of the Judeans in 37 B.C. for his assistance. After returning from exile, Hyrcanus II was executed in 30 B.C. by Herod to ensure that there would be no male Hasmonean rival for the Judean throne.

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