View source for 162 BC

=== By place ===

==== Seleucid Empire ====
* The [[Maccabees]], under the leadership of [[Judas Maccabeus]], continue their struggle against the [[Seleucid]]s and persecute the [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenising]] faction in [[Judea]].
* Seleucid forces still control the [[Acra (fortress)|Acra]], a strong fortress within [[Jerusalem]] that faces the [[Temple Mount]]. Judas Maccabeus lays siege to the fortress and in response, the Seleucid general and regent to the young Seleucid king [[Antiochus V Eupator|Antiochus V]], [[Lysias (Syrian chancellor)|Lysias]], approaches Jerusalem and besieges Beth-zechariah, 25 kilometres from the city. Judas lifts his own siege on the Acra, and leads his army south to Beth-zechariah. In the ensuing [[Battle of Beth-zechariah]], the Seleucids achieve their first major victory over the Maccabees, and Judas is forced to withdraw to Jerusalem.
* Lysias then lays siege to the city. Just when capitulation by the Maccabees seems imminent, Lysias has to withdraw when the commander-in-chief under the late Seleucid king [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]], Philip, rebels against him. As a result, Lysias decides to propose a peaceful settlement which is accepted by the Maccabees. The terms of peace involve the restoration of religious freedom, permission for the [[Jew]]s to live in accordance with their own laws, and the official return of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] to the Jews.
* With the aid of the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] statesman and historian [[Polybius]], the son of the former Seleucid king [[Seleucus IV Philopator]], [[Demetrius I Soter|Demetrius]] escapes from [[Rome]], where he has been held as a hostage for many years, and returns to Syria to claim the throne from his cousin [[Antiochus V Eupator|Antiochus V]]. In the resulting dispute, Antiochus V and his regent, [[Lysias (Syrian chancellor)|Lysias]], are overthrown and put to death. Demetrius then establishes himself on the Seleucid throne.

==== Georgia ====
* The king of [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Caucasian Iberia]], [[Saurmag I of Iberia|Saurmag I]], dies. Having no son, he is succeeded by his son-in-law, [[Mirian I of Iberia|Mirian]].
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