What was Antiochus IV Epiphanes goal when he made changes to the Jewish peoples' religious practices?

Question

liberate the Jewish people from the priests’ oppressive rule
purify Judaism
destroy Jewish culture
restore Judah’s independence from foreign governments
show he was a benevolent ruler

Answer 1

Antiochus IV Epiphanes aimed primarily to destroy Jewish culture and enforce Hellenization. His policies involved suppressing traditional Jewish religious practices and promoting the worship of Greek gods, ultimately seeking to unify his empire under a single cultural identity. This led to significant conflicts, including the Maccabean Revolt, as many Jews resisted these attempts to erase their religious and cultural identity.