Origins & Early Life

Simon bar Kokhba (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כּוֹכְבָא Šīm‘ōn bar Kōḵḇāʾ‎‍; romanized as Shimon bar Kokhva), also called Simon bar Koseba (שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר כֹסֵבָא Šīm‘ōn bar Ḵōsēḇaʾ‎‍) or simply Bar Kokhba, was a Jewish military leader in Judea. He lent his name to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, which he initiated against the Roman Empire in 132 CE. Though they were ultimately unsuccessful, Bar Kokhba and his rebels did manage to establish and maintain a Jewish state for about three years after beginning the rebellion. Bar Kokhba served as the state's leader, crowning himself as nasi (lit.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

'prince'). Some of the rabbinic scholars in his time believed him to be the long-expected Messiah. In 135, Bar Kokhba was killed by Roman troops in the fortified town of Betar. The Judean rebels who remained after his death were all killed or enslaved within the next year, and their defeat was followed by a harsh crackdown on the Judean populace by the Roman emperor Hadrian. Documents discovered in the 20th century in the Cave of Letters give his original name, with variations: Shimon bar Kosevah (שמעון בר כוסבה), Bar Kosevaʾ‎ (בר כוסבא) or Ben Kosevaʾ‎ (בן כוסבא...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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