Heliodorus (minister)

Heliodorus
Painting of Heliodorus being expelled from the temple
Regent of the Seleucid Empire
Regency	175 BCE
Predecessor	Seleucus IV Philopator
Successor	Antiochus IV Epiphanes
King and ward	Antiochus, son of Seleucus IV
Died	175 BCE (?)
Occupation	Chancellor of Seleucus IV Philopator

Heliodorus (Greek: Ἡλιόδωρος) was a chancellor of Seleucus IV Philopator (reigned c. 187 BCE – 175 BCE). During his tenure, he is recorded as being involved with an attempt to tax the Temple in Jerusalem in Jewish histories of the period. Around 175 BCE, Seleucus IV died; some historical sources say that Heliodorus assassinated Seleucus. Regardless of if he was responsible or not, he declared himself regent after the death and seized the power of the government for his own, hence the suspicions he was at fault. Helidorus's regency was short-lived. The brother of the late king, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was aided by the Pergamese monarch, Eumenes II, and arrived in Antioch. The Greek aristocracy favored Antiochus IV, and Heliodorus was overthrown.^[1]