Mattathias

Here is a refined and fact-based memorial biography of Mattathias ben Johanan, based strictly on reliable sources:

Biography of Mattathias ben Johanan

Mattathias ben Johanan was a Jewish priest (a kohen) active in the late 2nd century BCE, belonging to the priestly order of Joarib and a descendant of Phinehas through his forebears (en.wikipedia.org). He was originally from Jerusalem but later relocated to the rural village of Modi‘in (the exact birthplace remains uncertain) (en.wikipedia.org).

Historical accounts—most notably the First Book of Maccabees and the writings of Josephus—describe a pivotal moment when Mattathias refused to comply with decrees issued by Antiochus IV, which forbade Jewish religious practices. In Modi‘in, he defied an order to perform pagan sacrifices: he refused himself, then killed a fellow Jew who volunteered to take his place and the Seleucid official who enforced the command. He destroyed the pagan altar, and subsequently fled into the wilderness with his five sons, igniting the Maccabean Revolt (en.wikipedia.org).

Mattathias did not live to see the revolt’s success. He died around 166 BCE, after roughly a year of resistance, leaving leadership to his son Judah (Judas) Maccabeus (en.wikipedia.org). According to the accounts, Mattathias was buried in Modi‘in, the familial home where his dynasty and the uprising were rooted (en.wikipedia.org).

Following his death, his son Simon Thassi constructed a grand monument over the family tombs in Modi‘in, commemorating Mattathias, his wife, and their sons. Descriptions in First Maccabees and in Josephus speak of a structure adorned with seven pyramids or towers, columns, military armaments, and carved ships—intended as a lasting memorial visible from afar (en.wikipedia.org).

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I have preserved only the facts confirmed by sources and removed any uncertain or unsupported details (such as exact birth date, since none is attested). Let me know if you'd like further adjustments or detail.