This story about a real heroic event in Jewish history is fictionalized, but the characters, situation and final outcome are true. Antiochus V, a former ward of Rome, was seated as king of the Seleucids to manage the Roman affairs in the conquered Middle East. As time passed he became more and more powerful and began a campaign of repression and slavery in his controlled regions. Judas Maccabeus was tired of being forced into servitude to the Seleucid King, Antiochus V. In 163 BC Maccabeus lead the Jewish people of Judea in a revolt against the tyrant. King Antiochus V sent an army to quell the revolt. The Seleucid forces included 32 war elephants. Each elephant was accompanied by 1,000 soldiers totaling 32,000 troops. Maccabeus' younger brother, Eleazer noticed an extra large elephant that was more heavily armored than all the rest. To Eleazar it seemed the elephant and its throng of fighters were gradually moving toward Judas so Eleazar assumed that elephant carried Antiochus. Eleazar went to the War-wagon Master and demanded his sharpest sword. In the heat of battle Eleazar, thrust forward, slashed back and forth in eliptical ovals and somehow made his way through the phalanx of soldiers and soon found himself standing beneath the behemoth. Eleazar took the sword into the guidance of both his hands and drove the sword upward into the belly of the great beast. The elephant's bloodcurdling roar attracted the eyes and ears of every combatant from both sides of the battle. In the loudest pitch of the roar the great beast shuddered and collapsed atop Eleazar crushing him to death beneath the weight. A hero was born and died that day. Alas, the great elephant didn't bear King Antiochus V, and the Jewish forces retreated from the strength of the Seleucid army. (End of story). In 1961 Israel honored this hero of the paston a 32mm copper-nickel One Lira coin (KM34) as part of their Annual Hanukkah series. If you look closely at this coin you'll see the Hebrew letter "mem" between the elephant's legs denoting this coin is a proof. Uncirculated coins were, also, struck for collectors. Photos are courtesy of Joels Coins: http://www.joelscoins.com/images/israel34obvr.jpg http://www.joelscoins.com/images/israel34r.jpg Thought you'd like to know... Clinker - NUMISMATIC FUN WEBSITE UPDATED! http://clinker.bravehost.com/funpage2.html
Hey Clinker, I have to admit that if I saw all the armor on that elephant, well, I'd be another Eleazar!!!:goofer:
great post, I think I can speak for alot of people when I say, if not for you, I would never know about many of the things you post about, and I enjoy them all. Thanks Clinker
This would be a great article for "The Shekel" which is the publication of the American Israel Numismatic Society. Their website is www.theshekel.org and the Editor, Edward Schuman may be reached at schufeather@atlanticbb.net All of their articles tell a story and tell of the related coin or medal. It would be great to see your story published. Mike
Small correction Just a small correction, but I believe that it was Antiochus IV and not Antiochus V. Sorry for being so nit-picky.
Todanielf Thanks: All my research says "Antiochus V", but I've been wrong before. I didn't read the Apohraphal" Book IMaccabees, but took the word of a researcher who did. i read Jerimiah's account of the event as weitten in the Old Testament... Clinker
