The scent of the king: Notes on use and subversion of a Hellenistic topos in the account of Antiochus IV's death (2 Macc 9).

This article analyzes the narrative of Antiochus IV Epiphanes’ death in 2 Maccabees 9, focusing on its unique use of olfactory imagery to subvert traditional representations of royal power associated with perfumes (aromata) in Hellenistic culture. Drawing on biblical parallels—particularly the account of King Asa in 1 Kings 15 and 2 Chronicles 14-16—and Hellenistic literary motifs that link kingship with fragrant substances, the text contrasts Antiochus’ foul-smelling, decaying body with idealized portrayals of rulers like Alexander the Great, whose perfumed corpse symbolizes divine status. Unlike other sources that emphasize Antiochus’ grandeur and abundant use of perfumes, 2 Maccabees 9 employs the motif of unbearable stench to denigrate his kingship and deny his claims to divinity, thereby emphasizing his mortality and moral failure. This narrative strategy reflects a sophisticated interplay of biblical and Hellenistic cultural codes to critique Antiochus’ legacy.