In 168 B.C., Antiochus IV ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. The Temple in Jerusalem was seized and dedicated to Zeus. The Jews revolted and after three years of fighting, Judah Maccabee defeated the Seleukid army. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C. According to the Talmud, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, enough time to prepare and consecrate fresh oil.

Antiochos IV assumed divine epithets, which no other Hellenistic king had done before, such as Theos Epiphanes (“God Manifest”). His subjects made a pun on his name, calling him Epimanes (madman).
GY95970. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 1396(a), SNG Spaer 973 var. (no control), Houghton CSE 99 var. (same), Newell SMA 54 var. (same), HGC 9 619, VF, superb portrait and depiction of Zeus, toned, bumps, marks, struck with a dirty reverse die, minor flan flaw below chin, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, weight 16.403g, maximum diameter 31.0mm, die axis 0o, 173/2 – 169/8 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Antiochos IV right, diadem ends with stars (off flan), fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ/ ANTIOXOY downward on right, ΘEOY / EΠIΦANOYΣ downward on left, Zeus enthroned left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike bearing wreath in right hand, scepter vertical in left hand, both uprights of throne back seen, (control) in exergue; from the Errett Bishop Collection;

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