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Alexander Jannaeus

A Hasmonean king who ruled Judea, expanded its territory, and influenced conflicts between Jewish groups.

Salome Alexandra

Queen of Judea who supported the Pharisees, leading to a peaceful reign, but chaos followed her death.

Aristobulus II

A Hasmonean king whose reign ended with Roman control over Judea after fighting his brother for the throne.

Hyrcanus II

A high priest and weak king of Judea, symbolizing the loss of Jewish independence under Roman influence.

Hillel

A Jewish teacher known for wisdom and the Golden Rule, whose teachings influenced Rabbinic Judaism.

Shammai

A Jewish teacher known for strict interpretations of Jewish law, often in contrast to Hillel’s lenient views.

Antipater

Advisor and father of Herod the Great, helped his family gain power under Roman protection.

Herod the Great

King of Judea known for rebuilding the Second Temple and for his cruel political maneuvers.

Mariamne

Wife of Herod the Great whose tragic death represents the downfall of the Hasmonean dynasty.

Philo of Alexandria

A Jewish philosopher who attempted to blend Greek philosophy with Jewish beliefs.

Bannus

A person who influenced John the Baptist, known for his focus on prayer and repentance.

John the Baptist

A Jewish preacher who called for repentance and baptized Jesus, significant in Jewish and Christian traditions.

Honi the Circle-Drawer

A Jewish sage known for his powerful prayer for rain during a drought.

Jesus of Nazareth

A Jewish teacher and central figure in Christianity, whose teachings significantly impacted history.

Saul of Tarsus/Paul

A Jewish Pharisee instrumental in spreading Christianity to non-Jews and author of many New Testament letters.

Peter

One of Jesus' apostles and the first pope in Catholic tradition, pivotal in the early Christian church.

James

Brother of Jesus and leader of the early Jewish-Christian community in Jerusalem.

Josephus

A Jewish historian known for his accounts of the Jewish-Roman wars and history of the Jews.

Agrippa I

King of Judea under Roman rule who supported traditional Jewish practices but persecuted early Christians.

Agrippa II

The last Jewish king before the fall of Judea, involved in early Christian history and interactions with Paul.

Berenice

Sister of Agrippa II, played an important role during the Jewish Revolt and in the political interactions between the Jewish monarchy and the Roman Empire

Shimon Bar Kosiba (Bar Kokhba)

Leader of a revolt against Rome, symbolizing Jewish resistance despite his defeat.

R. Yohanan ben Zakkai

Key Jewish sage who established a learning center at Yavneh after the destruction of the Second Temple.

Pompey

Roman general who conquered Judea, marking the start of Roman control over Jewish life.

Octavian/Augustus

First Roman emperor whose reign marked the transition of Judea to a Roman province.

Tiberius

Second Roman emperor during Jesus' life, influential in the political environment of the time.

Pontius Pilate

Roman governor known for overseeing the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

Caligula

Roman emperor infamous for cruelty, attempted to place a statue in the Jewish Temple.

Flaccus

Roman governor known for anti-Jewish policies in Alexandria during the first century.

Petronius

Roman governor who intervened to prevent Caligula’s statue from being placed in the Jewish Temple.

Claudius

Roman emperor who expelled Jews from Rome due to disturbances involving early Christians.

Nero

Roman emperor notorious for persecuting Christians and responsible for the destruction of the Second Temple.

Gessius Florus

Roman governor whose harsh rule contributed to the Great Jewish Revolt.

Cestius Gallus

Roman legate whose failed campaign against Jewish rebels helped ignite the Great Jewish Revolt.

Vespasian

Roman emperor who led forces in the Great Jewish Revolt and oversaw Jerusalem's destruction.

Titus

Vespasian’s son who completed the conquest of Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple.

Domitian

Roman emperor whose reign saw increased persecution of Christians and Jews.

Trajan

Roman emperor under whom the Empire expanded, involved in repression of the Jewish rebellion.

Hadrian

Roman emperor who crushed the Bar Kokhba revolt and significantly restrained Jewish practices.

Constantine

First Christian Roman emperor who influenced Christian doctrines and Jewish-Christian relations.

Theodosius I

Roman emperor who made Christianity the state religion, affecting Jewish institutions.

Apion

Critic of the Jews in Alexandria, important for understanding anti-Jewish sentiments in the Hellenistic world.

Wicked Priest

A figure in the Dead Sea Scrolls representing a corrupt leader who persecuted the Essenes.

Teacher of Righteousness

Leader of the Essenes mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls, known for righteous teachings.

Cleopatra

Queen of Egypt whose alliances influenced Jewish politics during the late Second Temple period.

Letter of Aristeas

Document telling the story of the Septuagint translation of Hebrew Scriptures into Greek.

Septuagint (LXX)

The Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, significant for Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians.

Pharisees

Jewish sect advocating strict adherence to the Torah and oral law, laying the groundwork for Rabbinic Judaism.

Sadducees

Jewish sect holding power in the Temple priesthood, rejecting oral traditions and resurrection beliefs.

Zadokites

Ancient priestly family serving in the Jerusalem Temple during the First Temple period.

Essenes

Jewish group known for self denial and associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Qumran

Site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, offering insights into Jewish beliefs.

Halakhic Letter

A document providing guidance on Jewish law, often used by authorities for legal rulings.

Pesher

Method of interpreting biblical texts concerning contemporary events, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Seekers-after-smooth-things (Dorshei-Halakhot)

Term referring to those who distort Jewish law for personal convenience.

Zealots

Radical Jewish group fighting against Roman rule and seeking independence.

Sicarii

Subgroup of the Zealots known for violence against Roman sympathizers.

Pseudepigrapha

Collection of Jewish writings attributed to biblical figures, offering insights into Jewish thought.

Apocalypse

Genre dealing with revelations about the end of the world and divine judgment, influential in Jewish and Christian texts.

Allegory

Method of interpretation that uses abstract ideas represented by characters or events.

God-fearers

Non-Jews interested in Judaism who attended synagogue without fully converting.

Jotapata

Town known for fierce Jewish resistance during the Jewish War, crucial in Josephus' history.

Jewish War

Revolt against Roman rule that destroyed the Second Temple and led to nearly two thousand years of Jewish disperse.

Antiquities of the Jews

Work by Josephus detailing Jewish history from creation to the Jewish War.

Against Apion

Josephus' defense of Judaism against Greek and Roman criticisms.

Life of Josephus

Josephus' autobiography detailing his life and role in the Jewish War.

2 Baruch

Apocalyptic text reflecting Jewish despair and hope after the destruction of the Second Temple.

4 Ezra

Apocalyptic work addressing God's justice and Israel’s fate after the Temple's destruction.

Apocalypse of John (Revelation)

Final book of the New Testament containing apocalyptic visions, influenced by Jewish traditions.

Yavneh

Town where Jewish leaders established a center for learning after the Second Temple's destruction.

Mishnah

Foundational Jewish text compiling oral laws and traditions around 200 CE.

Tannaim

Rabbis contributing to the Mishnah in the 1st–2nd centuries CE.

Amoraim

Rabbis who commented on the Mishnah during the 3rd–5th centuries CE.

Gemara

Rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah, forming half of the Talmud.

Talmud

Central text in Rabbinic Judaism, consisting of the Mishnah and Gemara.

Torah and 'Oral Torah'

The written law (Torah) and oral teachings passed down, later compiled in the Mishnah.

Piyyut

Jewish liturgical poem often added to prayer services.