Seleucid Jews

Mattathias ben Johanan (, Mattīṯyāhū haKōhēn ben Yōḥānān; died 166–165 BCE) was a Kohen (Jewish priest) who helped spark the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. Mattathias's story is related in the deuterocanonical book of 1 Maccabees and in the writings of Josephus. Mattathias is accorded a central role in the story of Hanukkah and, as a result, is named in the Al HaNissim prayer Jews add to the Birkat Hamazon (grace after meals) and the Amidah during the festival's eight days.

High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem

Alcimus (from Alkimos, "valiant" or Hebrew אליקום Elyaqum, "God will rise"), also called Jakeimos, Jacimus, or Joachim (), was High Priest of Israel for three years from 162–159 BCE. He was a moderate Hellenizer who favored the ruling government of the Seleucid Empire (Greek Syria) and opposed the Maccabean Revolt which was in progress at the time.

High Priest during the Second Temple period of Judaism

Jewish high priest

thumb|right|View of Qasr al-Abd ("Castle of the Servant"), an important structure of the Tobiad estate in today's Iraq al-Amir ("Caverns of the Prince").