Alexander Jannaeus

[[Image:AlexanderJannaeus.gif|thumb|300px|Coin of Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Front: Seleucid anchor, with Greek legend "King Alexander".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Back: Eight-spoked wheel or star-within a diadem, with Hebrew letters between the spokes "Yehonatan the King".]]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai), king of Judea from (103 BCE to 76 BCE), son of John Hyrcanus, inherited the throne from his brother Aristobulus, and appears to have married his brother's widow, Shlamtzion or Shlomtzion or "Shelomit", also known as Salome Alexandra, according to the Biblical law of Yibum ("levirate marriage"), although Josephus is inexplicit on that point.

Related Topics:
Judea - 103 BCE - 76 BCE - John Hyrcanus - Aristobulus - Salome Alexandra - Josephus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His likely full Hebrew name was Jonathan; he may have been the High Priest Jonathan, rather than his great-uncle of the same name, who established the Masada fortress. Under the name King Yannai, he appears as a wicked tyrant in the Talmud, reflecting his conflict with the Pharisee party. He is among the more colorful historical figures little known, however, outside specialized history, although the impact of him and his widow on the subsequent development of Judaism and Christianity is substantial.

Related Topics:
Masada - Talmud - Pharisee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~