דימויים העצמי של החשמונאים כמנהיגים דתיים

This article seeks to reconstruct the manner in which the Hasmoneans (and their supporters) portrayed themselves and their rule, and how they constructed their public image. The first, and to a certain extent, the second Book of Maccabees presented the Maccabees from the perspective of their successors. The characteristics attributed to the Maccabees actually attest to the ways in which the later Hasmoneans (especially John Hyrcanus) wished to legitimize their rule. Hasmonean coins and palaces reflected the official identity of the Hasmoneans and the messages they sought to convey to their subjects.
The books of Maccabees highlighted the religious virtues and the acts of Mattathias, Judah, Jonathan, and Simon. Josephus and the Rabbis even mentions that John Hyrcanus was a prophet. They were zealous for the law, prayed to the Lord, served as high priests, and were devoted to the Temple. Their religious features overshadowed, in a sense, their political and military achievements.
The coins of John Hyrcanus and Judah Aristobulus did not mention their political title as secular rulers, but only their high priestly titles. Even King Alexander Jannaeus, who did mention his royal title on his coins, continued to stress his high priesthood on most of his coins. The Hasmonean palaces in Jericho displayed religious scrupulousness concerning purity: they contained many ritual baths, both private and public, but lacked Gentile pottery vessels.
The Hasmoneans therefore regarded themselves as high priests devoted to Jewish law and identity, and believed that these features imparted legitimacy. They and their supporters saw no contradiction between their Jewish piety and assumption of Hellenistic features of power, wealth and political relations.