Simeon Bar Giora

Simeon Bar Giora

 

(also Simon bar Giora). Died A.D. 70 or 71. One of the leaders of the Sicarii.

At the very beginning of the Jewish War (A.D. 66–73), Simeon lead the Sicarii against the Romans, inflicting several significant defeats on them. He gathered a large army by promising to free the slaves and improve the economic lot of the free people. Simeon was one of the main organizers of the defense of Jerusalem during the Roman siege; after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, he was captured and executed.