Ananelus (also known asHanameel) was aJewish High priest in the 1st century BCE.
Though ofpriestly descent, he was not a member of theHasmonean dynasty. TheMishnah (Parah 3:5) identifies him as Hanameel the Egyptian, whileJosephus ("Ant." xv. 2, § 4) identifies him as being fromBabylon.
He was appointed byHerod to fill the office of high priest made vacant by the death ofAntigonus (37 BCE). Ananelus's incumbency was of short duration. Prudence compelled Herod to remove him, and to fill his place with theHasmonean Aristobulus (36 BCE). The youthful Hasmonean, however, was too popular with the patriotic party; though he was a brother of Mariamne, Herod's beloved wife, he was treacherously drowned at Herod's instigation (35 BCE), and Ananelus was restored to the high position. How long he continued in office is not stated; but it could not have been for many years, since after the execution of Mariamne (29 BCE) Herod remarried, and appointed his second father-in-law,Simon ben Boethus, to the high-priesthood, removingJoshua ben Fabus.
Ananelus is credited with having prepared the last of seven total "red heifers" (see Numbers 19) which were provided in all the centuries from Ezra's restoration to the final dispersion of the Jews (Parah 3:5).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Hanameel the Egyptian".The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
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| Preceded by | High Priest of Israel 37 BC – 36 BC | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | High Priest of Israel 36–30 | Succeeded by |