Judaea. Jerusalem. Hasmoneans. Alexander Jannaios (Yehonatan) 103-76 BC.
Prutah Æ

14 mm, 1,16 g

Star of eight rays; all within border of dots / Upright anchor within circle.

Very Fine

HGC 10, 644.

The Hasmoneans were a Jewish dynasty that ruled Judea from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century BC. They emerged as leaders during the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which had attempted to suppress Jewish religious practices in Judea. The revolt was led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his sons, notably Judah Maccabee. Judah Maccabee and his brothers successfully liberated Judea and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC, an event commemorated by the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Following these military victories, the Hasmoneans established an independent Jewish state in Judea, marking a significant period of self-rule and religious freedom for the Jewish people. Under the leadership of Simon Maccabee, the Hasmoneans expanded their territory and secured alliances with foreign powers, solidifying their control over Judea. Simon and his descendants, including John Hyrcanus and Alexander Jannaeus, ruled Judea as both high priests and kings, a dual role that combined political and religious authority. The Hasmonean period witnessed internal struggles, particularly between religious traditionalists (Pharisees) and Hellenized Jews who embraced Greek culture (Sadducees). These divisions, along with external pressures from neighboring powers like the Seleucids and eventually the Romans, contributed to the decline of the Hasmonean dynasty. By the time of Herod the Great, who ruled with Roman support from 37 to 4 BCE, the Hasmonean dynasty had effectively ended, although some descendants remained active in Jewish religious and political life. The legacy of the Hasmoneans includes their pivotal role in preserving Jewish identity and traditions during a turbulent period of regional conflicts and cultural shifts in ancient Judea.