Alexander the Great coin
The persians for the first time in history started to use gold, silver, and bronze coins as currency and propaganda, hence Alexander the Great on a coin. 336-323 BCE, Alexander the Great defeats conquers everything including PAlestine. In 333 BCE, alexander the GReat also defeats King Darius at the Battle of Issus, followed by his death in 323 BCE. With all of his vast land his kingdom divides into the Ptolemies (Egyptains), and the Seleucids (Syrians). In short the Ptolemies captured Jeruslaem in 320 BCE, but then were beat by Antiochus III in 201 BCE. He advocated Hellenism and to "speak greek".
The Hellenization of Jerusalem took place between 201-164 BCE. Every aspect of JEwish life was affected in that it conflicted with hellenizaton. The joining of the two is evident in Jewish funerary inscriptions which were done in Greek or In jewish homes were mosaics of Greek stories and characters. The zodiac symbols were even assimilated into Jewish place of worship. Greeks basically took over in every way and turned the temple into a temple for Zeus! Some Jews welcomed it and other didn't and caused a REVOLT!
As the conservative Jews rebelled it was dubbed the Maccabean Revolt due to its leader Judas Maccabeus. They were finally successful by 165 BCE, and regained control of Jerusalem and the temple. The sacrificial system was resumed and in celebration they lit a candle which they had enough oil for one and by a miracle of God it lasted eight days to which established Hanukkah. Leaders descendants of "hasmon" restored the Golden Age! Hasmonean Rulers increasingly became hellenized to which they assumed office of high priest and King. They forcibly judaized surrounding regions. This caused a resurgence in Jerusalem's size and became a major urban center again. To conclude the Roman's came along and conquered by 63 BCE, this marks the end of Jewish self rule.
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