HeliodörUs
Heliodörus (᾿Ηελιόδωρος, i.e. gift of the sun, a not unfrequent Greek name), the treasurer (ὁ ἐπὶ τῶνπραγμάτων) of Seleucus Philopator, who was commissioned by the king, at the instigation of Apollonius (q.v.), to carry away the private treasures deposited in the Temple at Jerusalem. According to the narrative in 2 Macc. 3:9 sq., he was stayed from the execution of his design by a "great apparition" (ἐπιφάνεια), in consequence of which he fell down "compassed with great darkness," and speechless. He was afterwards restored at the intercession of the high- priest Onias, and bore witness to the king of the inviolable majesty of the Temple (2 Macc. 3). The full details of the narrative are not supported by any other evidence. Josephus, who was unacquainted with 2 Macc., takes no notice of it (Ant. 12, 3, 3); and the author of the so called 4 Macc. attributes the attempt to plunder the-Temple to Apollonius, and differs in his account of the miraculous interposition, though he distinctly recognizes it (De Mltcc. 4 οὐρανόθεν ἔφιπποι προυφάνησαν ἄγγελοι.... καταπεσὼν δὲ ἡμιθανὴς οΑ῾᾿πολλώνιος .. ). Heliedorus afterwards murdered Seleucus, and made an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Syrian crown (App. Syr. 45). B.C. 175. — Comp. Wernsdorf, De ide Libr. Macc. § liv. Raffaelle's grand picture of "Heliodorus" has often been copied and engraved.
