Hanameel the Egyptian

Ananel (or Hananel ) was High Priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was appointed by Herod the Great, shortly after his accession to the throne in 37 BC to the high priest.

Its origin is unclear, supposedly it comes from Babylon ( Flavius ​​Josephus, Antiquities of Judaica 15, 2, 4), according to other sources, however, he was of Egyptian origin. Anyway, he belonged neither to the house of the Hasmoneans yet to make one of the priestly families, which made his appointment to a scandalous nuisance especially for Alexandra ( Hasmonean ), Herod's mother. In their eyes, namely, had her 16- year-old son Aristobulus III. far more entitled to this position of honor.

To achieve their goal, they sent pictures of her two children Aristobulus III. and Mariamne to Marcus Antonius, who under the influence of Cleopatra of Egypt ruled the eastern part of the Roman Empire at that time. She did well in the hope that the great beauty of the two will take Anthony for their children and their wishes. This was achieved also: Mariamne was married to Herod, and therefore was not available, but the Aristobulus ordered the open-minded and men beauty Anthony Herod to his court to send, which of course could not be in the sense of Herod. Given the choice to see the Aristobulus in the bed of Antonius or at the altar of the temple, Herod chose the latter.

He sat Ananel out of hand and made the chief priests of the Jews to Aristobulus, making this ex officio has been indispensable. Soon, however, the popularity of the youthful high priest was found in the eyes of Herod as a new threat. He invited Therefore, in the autumn of 35 BC the Aristobulus to Jericho and was drown him of his servants at a Schwimmbeckenbalgerei.

Then he made 34 BC the Ananel back to the high priest. When he was replaced by his successor Jesus ben Phiabi is not known. But no later than 23 BC, as Jesus ben Phiabi was then replaced by Simon ben Boethos.