OLYMPIUS.An epithet of Zeus derived from Mt. Olympus in Thessaly, the legendary home of the gods. Antiochus Epiphanes caused the Temple at Jerusalem to be dedicated to Zeus Olympius in b.c. 168 (2Ma_6:2), and the setting up of his image is the abomination of desolation (Dan_9:27). Cf. Jupiter.
A. E. Hillard.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909
ṓ-lim?pi-us (Ὀλύμπιος, Olúmpios): An epithet of JUPITER or ZEUS (which see) from Mt. Olympus in Thessaly, where the gods held court presided over by Zeus. Antiochus Epiphanes, ?who on God's altars dansed,? insulted the Jewish religion by dedicating the temple of Jerusalem to Jupiter Olympius, 168 BC (2 Macc 6:2; 1 Macc 1:54 ff).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.
Olympius
(Ο᾿λύμπιος, i.e. Olympian), one of the chief epithets of the Greek deity Zeus, so called from Mount Olympus in Thessaly, the abode of the gods (2Ma_6:2). SEE JUPITER.
CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL
press 1895.