Seleucidae
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Seleucidae in the Bible?
The Seleucidae was a Hellenistic dynasty of Macedonian Greek origin that established and maintained control over extensive territories in the Near East following the fragmentation of Alexander the Great's empire. This dynasty facilitated the diffusion of Greek language, art, and political structures across Western Asia, creating a cosmopolitan environment that influenced regional societies for three centuries.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the Seleucid dynasty provides essential historical context for the books of Maccabees and the New Testament, particularly regarding the religious tensions in Judea under Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the geopolitical landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean during the early Christian era.
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.