Antigonus (son of Aristobulus)

Also known as: Antigona / Antigonus · Family: Jewish · Role: son of Aristobulus and captive · First appears: Book I, Chapter 7

In Book I, Chapter 7, Pompey took Aristobulus and his children captive; Alexander escaped, but Antigonus and his sisters were carried to Rome. In Chapter 8, Antigonus fled Rome with Aristobulus, but both were captured at Machaerus and returned there as prisoners. In Chapter 9, Philippio took Antigonus and his sisters from Aristobulus’s wife to his father, while Ptolemy took greater care of them. By Chapter 10, Antigonus accused Hyrcanus and Antipater before Caesar of driving him and his brothers from their native country, and Pompey was counted among his enemies.

In Chapter 12, Marion assisted Antigonus out of hatred for Herod (son of Antipater and Cypros), Fabius became his paid supporter, and Ptolemy supplied what he needed, but Herod defeated him and drove him from Judea. Two years afterward, Barzapharnes helped restore Antigonus to his kingdom and expel Hyrcanus; Antigonus bit off Hyrcanus’s ears to prevent his return to the high priesthood, while Phasaelus died after resisting his abuse. In Chapter 14, the Roman senate unanimously appointed Herod king against Antigonus. During the fighting that followed, Antigonus bribed Ventidius and Silo, sought aid from Machaerus and Pacorus, and sent Pappus against Samaria, while Herod marched against him. Antigonus detected Machaerus’s espionage and expelled him, and his faction drowned prominent supporters of Herod at Galilee; Antigonus also had Joseph beheaded despite Pheroras offering fifty talents for his release.

In Chapter 18, Antigonus surrendered to Sosius, who bound him and kept him in custody, calling him “Antigona.” Sosius then delivered him in bonds to Antony, and “then did the axe bring him to his end.” Afterward, Herod rewarded his own supporters and killed those who belonged to Antigonus’s faction.