Category:Ananus ben Ananus (subject)
Ananus ben Ananus was the Jewish High Priest in 63 CE.
Biography
Ananus was the son of Annas (Ananus ben Seth), therefore a member of the powerful family who controlled the High Priesthood in the first century. However, he remained in power only three months, as he took advantage of the interregnum between Festus and Albinus to execute James, the brother of Jesus of Nazareth, and others, as "breakers of the Law." Denounced by "the most equitable of the citizens" and accused by Albinus of abuse of power for "assembling a sanhedrim without his consent," Ananus was deposed by Herod Agrippa II and replaced by Joshua ben Damnaeus.
According to Josephus, the former high priest played a major role at Jerusalem during the Jewish revolt, where he led the moderate and anti-Zealot faction of the rebellion, until his assassination.
Ananus in ancient sources
Josephus is the major source of information on Ananus.
Josephus
1. And now Caesar [i.e. Nero], upon hearing the death of Festus, sent Albinus into Judea, as procurator. But the king [Herod Agrippa II] deprived Joseph of the high priesthood, and bestowed the succession to that dignity on the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus... But this younger Ananus... was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity [to exercise his authority]. Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for that what he had already done was not to be justified; nay, some of them went also to meet Albinus, as he was upon his journey from Alexandria, and informed him that it was not lawful for Ananus to assemble a sanhedrim without his consent. Whereupon Albinus complied with what they said, and wrote in anger to Ananus, and threatened that he would bring him to punishment for what he had done; on which king Agrippa took the high priesthood from him, when he had ruled but three months, and made Jesus, the son of Damneus, high priest. (Josephus, Ant XX 9:1).
Ananus in Scholarship
Ananus in Fiction
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