Simon bar Giora

Simon ben Giora(?-70AD) was a radical Jewish rebellion leader and an influential leader of the Zealots during the first Jewish-Roman War.

After defeating Legio VII Fulminata at Beth Horon(66AD) his popularity among the rebels increased quickly, he was considered as the savior and protector of the Jews . Soon he gained the control over northern and southern areas around Jerusalem and many local Jewish rebels joined him including prisoners, who had been freed in the course of the civil war. In the meanwhile(66-68AD) a civil war broke out in Jerusalem, moderate Jewish rebels were massacred by two radical factions of Zealots led by Eleazar ben Simon and John of Giscala who became thereafter the most powerful leader of the rebellion in Jerusalem. After too many unsuccessful attemps Simon ben Giora entered the Jerusalem finally in spring 69 AD with the help of remaining moderate Jews in the city, whereby the city was split into three parts, each under control of one of the radical leaders, Simon ben Giora controlled the larger part of the city beside food supply.

Romans finally conducted a siege on Jerusalem in 70 under command of Titus. The resistance of the exhausted Jewish Rebels was finally broken by the Romans, Jerusalem was captured, the revolt neutrulized and Simon ben Giora and John of Giscala were sent to slavery by the Romans.

Josephus descripes Simon ben Giora as another tyrannt beside his rival, John of Giscala and has a negative view of him, but he also mentions how Jewish warriors stood in awe of Simon and were even ready to commit suicide for him. Simon ben Giora is a legend in the Jewish history and marked as one of the greatest Jewish military and political leaders, he 'll be remembered forever as the rebel who put Romans at beth Horon to roat.

Sources:

Gesalbter und König- Stefan Schreiber

The Middle East under Rome- Maurice Sartre