Category:Ananel (subject)

BACK TO THE PEOPLE--INDEX

Ananel (Hanameel) was the Jewish High Priest, 37-35 and 35-30? BCE, under Herod the Great.

This page is edited by Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan

Overview

Ananel was the first High Priest appointed by Herod the Great. The new King chose an Aaronite from the diaspora (Babylon according to Josephus, or less likely, Egypt according to the Mishnah). The intent was to discontinue the dynasty of the Hasmoneans, after the defeat and execution of Antigonus, who had sided with the Parthians. Ananel "was one of the stock of the high priests and had been of old a particular friend of Herod" but his appointment was an insult to the entire House of Hasmoneus. Alexandra the Hasmonean and her daughter Mariamne, whom Herod the Great had taken as his wife in order to consolidate his power, "could not bear this indignity" and "vehemently" complained, demanding that the office were given to Mariamne's brother Aristobulus III.

Unable to resist the pressure, Herod claimed that "he had formerly set up Ananelus, because Aristobulus was then so very young a child". In 35 BCE, "in order to quiet the troubles in his family," he then dismissed Ananel and replaced him with Aristobulus III. As Josephus reminds his readers, it had happened before only to Jason and John Hyrcanus II, that a ruling High Priest were deprived of his dignity. Herod had no intention of sharing his power with the House of Hasmoneus, however. A few months later, he secretly ordered the murder of Aristobulus III and Ananel was restored to the office of High Priest.

Around 30 BCE Ananel was succeeded by Joshua ben Phiabi.