| Simon Thassi | |
|---|---|
| High Priest of Jerusalem | |
 An imaginary depiction of Simon Thassi fromGuillaume Rouillé'sPromptuarii Iconum Insigniorum (1553) | |
| Leader of the Maccabees | |
| Reign | 142–135 BCE |
| Predecessor | Jonathan Apphus |
| Successor | John Hyrcanus |
| Prince of Judaea | |
| Reign | 141-135 BCE |
| Successor | John Hyrcanus I |
| High Priest of Judaea | |
| Reign | 141-135 BCE |
| Predecessor | Jonathan Apphus |
| Successor | John Hyrcanus I |
| Born | 184 BCE Judea |
| Died | 135 BCE Dok |
| Spouse | name unknown[1] |
| Issue | John Hyrcanus I Mattathias II Judas II Naamah bat Simon III Thassi (daughter) |
| Dynasty | Hasmonean |
| Father | Mattathias |
| Mother | Simona bat Judas |
| Religion | Hellenistic Judaism |
Simon Thassi (Hebrew:שִׁמְעוֹן הַתַּסִּיŠīməʿōn haTassī; died 135 BC)[2] was the second son ofMattathias and the first prince of theHasmonean dynasty. He reigned from 141 to 135 BCE.
The name "Thassi" has a connotation of "the Wise", a title which can also mean "the Director", "the Guide", "the Man of Counsel", and "the Zealous".[3][4] This Simon is also sometimes distinguished asSimon the Hasmonean,Simon Maccabee, or (fromLatin)Simon Maccabeus.
Simon took a prominent part in theMaccabean Revolt against theSeleucid Empire led by his brothers,Judas Maccabaeus andJonathan Apphus. The successes of the Jews rendered it expedient for the Seleucid leaders inSyria to show them special favour. Therefore,Antiochus VI appointed Simonstrategos, or military commander, of the coastal region stretching from theLadder of Tyre to Egypt. Asstrategos, Simon gained control of the cities ofBeth-zur andJoppa, garrisoning them with Jewish troops, and built the fortress ofAdida.[5]
After the capture of Jonathan by the Seleucid generalDiodotus Tryphon, Simon was elected leader by the people, assembled atJerusalem. He at once completed the fortification of the capital, and madeJoppa secure.[6][7]
AtHadid he blocked the advance of Tryphon, who was attempting to enter the country and seize the throne of Syria. Realizing he could gain nothing by force, Tryphon demanded a ransom for Jonathan and for the release of Jonathan's sons as hostages. Although Simon was aware that Tryphon would deceive him, both Josephus and 1 Maccabees state that he acceded to both demands so that the people might see that he had done everything possible for his brother. Jonathan was nevertheless assassinated, and the hostages were not returned. Simon thus became the sole leader of the people.[5]
As an opponent of Diodotus Tryphon, Simon decided to side with the Seleucid king,Demetrius II, to whom he sent a deputation requesting freedom from taxation for the country. The fact that his request was granted implied recognition of the political independence ofJudea in the year 142 BCE.
In 141 BCE, the Jews themselves issued a public decree at a large assembly "of the priests and the people and of the elders of the land, to the effect that Simon should be their leader and high priest forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet".[8] This when Simon Thassi becameHigh Priest of Judaea and Ethnarch (Prince of Judaea).[5] He was the first prince of theHasmonean dynasty, reigning from 141 to 134 BCE. Recognition of the new dynasty by theRoman Republic was accorded by the Senate about 139 BCE, when the delegation representing Simon was inRome. Simon had made the Jewish people semi-independent of the Seleucid Empire.
In 134 BCE, Simon and his two sons Mattathias and Judah were assassinated at a banquet atDok by his son-in-lawPtolemy, the Seleucid governor atJericho; Simon was the last of the Maccabees to 'die with his boots on'. Simon's third sonJohn Hyrcanus succeeded him as high priest and ruler of Judea but was unable to capture Ptolemy, initially because the latter held John's mother hostage, and subsequently because his army disbanded in observance of the custom at the time of resting every seventh year. Under Hyrcanus (134–104 BCE) Jewish independence was finally achieved.[2]
Simon (and its Hebrew form, Simeon) would go on to become the most popular male name for some three centuries afterward in both the Hasmonean Kingdom andRoman Judaea. This was both to honor a Jewish hero who had attained independence for the Jewish state, as well as because "Simon" did not sound artificial or strange to Greek ears.[9][10]
Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Simon Maccabeus".The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.Simon Thassi Died: 134 BCE | ||
| Jewish titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Leader of the Maccabees 142–134 BCE | Title extinct |
| Preceded by | High Priest of Judaea 141–134 BCE | Succeeded by |
| New title Principality declared | Prince of Judaea 141–134 BCE | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
