"Son of the Star"

Simon Bar-Kokhba ("Son of the Star") was a Messianic claimant holding the title "Nasi" (Prince) of the House of David who led the Jewish revolt against Rome between 132 and 135 AD.

According to the ancient historian Cassius Dio, (Roman history 69.13:1-2): "Soon, the whole of Judaea had been stirred up, and the Jews everywhere were showing signs of disturbance, were gathering together, and giving evidence of great hostility to the Romans, partly by secret and partly by open acts; many others, too, from other peoples, were joining them from eagerness for profit, in fact one might almost say that the whole world was being stirred up by this business."

Emperor Hadrian personally brought 12 legions to Israel to put down the rebellion. Cassius Dio stated 580,000 Jews were killed in the war against Bar Kokhba. In the aftermath of the war, Hadrian consolidated the older political units of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria into the new province of Syria Palaestina (Palestine).

Jews were banished from Jerusalem and only allowed to enter the city one day a year: to mourn. The lesson was learned that, "the difference between stupidity and heroism is success."