Citadel
LocationsGeographical Setting
A fortified military stronghold constructed by Seleucid rulers within the city of Jerusalem during the second century BCE.
What is the meaning of Citadel in the Bible?
The citadel, known as the Akra, was a heavily fortified military garrison built by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes in Jerusalem around 167 BCE to control the population and protect the Syrian garrison. Located in the lower city near the Temple Mount, it served as a base for military operations against the Jewish rebels during the Maccabean Revolt until it was captured and dismantled by Simon Maccabaeus in 141 BCE.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the citadel clarifies the political and military tensions described in 1 Maccabees, illustrating how Seleucid control over Jerusalem was maintained through physical occupation and how its removal marked a key moment of Jewish autonomy and the consolidation of Hasmonean power.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.