Callisthenes
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Callisthenes was an officer under Nicanor who was charged with burning the sacred portals of the temple during the desecration under Antiochus Epiphanes. He fled into an outhouse and was burned alive by the Jews after their victory over Nicanor's army.
What is the meaning of Callisthenes in the Bible?
Callisthenes was an officer under Nicanor who was charged with burning the sacred portals of the temple during the desecration under Antiochus Epiphanes. He fled into an outhouse and was burned alive by the Jews after their victory over Nicanor's army.
SIGNIFICANCE
The account of Callisthenes provides historical context for the narrative in 2 Maccabees, illustrating the specific acts of sacrilege that provoked the Jewish resistance and highlighting the personal consequences faced by those who enforced Seleucid religious policies.
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.