Antigonus II Mattathias

Antigonus II Mattathias, born in the year eighty before the common era, was a prominent figure in Jewish history, serving as the High Priest of Israel and the last Hasmonean king of Judea. He was the son of King Aristobulus II, inheriting a legacy steeped in the struggle for Jewish independence.

His reign, though brief, lasted three years and was marked by a fierce resistance against Roman domination. Antigonus led the Jewish people in their fight for autonomy, embodying the spirit of defiance that characterized the Hasmonean dynasty.

In thirty-seven before the common era, his rule came to a tragic end when Herod the Great, aligning with Roman interests, surrendered Antigonus to the Romans. This act sealed his fate, leading to his execution and marking a significant turning point in the history of Judea.