Ananus ben Ananus (, ; or ; d. 68 AD) was a High Priest of Israel in Jerusalem in Judaea in the first century. He was the High Priest who ordered the execution by stoning of James, brother of Jesus, according to the Antiquities of the Jews of Josephus. A delegation sent by citizens upset over the perceived breach of justice met Lucceius Albinus before he reached Judea, and Albinus responded with a letter informing Ananus that it was illegal to convene the Sanhedrin without Albinus' permission and threatening to punish him. Ananus was therefore deposed by King Herod Agrippa II before Albinus' arrival and replaced with Jesus son of Damneus.Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20, Chapter 9, Section 1
Ananus was one of the main leaders of the Great Revolt of Judea, which erupted in the year 66. He was appointed as one of the heads of the Judean provisional government together with Joseph ben Gurion in late 66. In 68, Ananus was killed during the inter-rebel civil war in Jerusalem. Josephus in The Jewish War considered Ananus "unique in his love for liberty and an enthusiast for democracy" and as an "effective speaker, whose words carried weight with the people", though in the Antiquities of the Jews he was more critical of his behaviour, calling him "a bold man in his temper, and very insolent".Josephhus, The Wars of the Jews. Book 4.314. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0148%3Abook%3D4%3Asection%3D314
Great Priest
Josephus's account of the death of James as follows:
The current scholarly consensus is that this text is authentic.Richard Bauckham states that although a few scholars have questioned this passage, "the vast majority have considered it to be authentic" . Moreover, in comparison with Hegesippus's account of James's death in his Hypomnemata, scholars consider Josephus's to be the more historically reliable.
Head of Judean provisional government After Ananus was deposed as high priest, he continued to exercise leadership. "Under the guidance of former high priest Ananus ben Ananus, they (the Sanhedrin) exhorted the populace for support against the radical priestly Zealots, as these 'persuaded those who officiated in the Temple sacrifices to accept no gift or services from a foreigner' (BJ II, 409-414)." Later, he marshaled recruits to fight the Zealots, resulting in the Zealot coup in Jerusalem. While commanding the Jews during the siege, Ananus was killed by the Idumeans or Edomites.Josephus, The Wars of the Jews. Book 4, Chapter 5
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External links Has a brief mention of Ananus ben Ananus at the end.