Simon Son of Man (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

John I. Riegel

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0484029134 ISBN 13: 9780484029131

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Exploring the complex figure behind a powerful myth.

This nonfiction work examines the historical person often called the Son of Man, tracing how various names and traditions—Simon Bar Gi'ora, Menander, Bar Chochab—converge in a single, controversial figure. The book weighs evidence from early Christian and rabbinic sources to ask who this man really was and what his story meant in his time.

In clear, accessible prose, the text connects religious language, political aims, and cultural memory to show how this figure was perceived as a political liberator and a central riddle in ancient history. It examines names, coins, and legends to shed light on how the figure was read by different communities and how those readings shaped later beliefs.

• How names and titles around the Son of Man were used and misused across different traditions.
• Ways historical evidence has been interpreted to identify the real person behind a powerful narrative.
• How the figure’s life intersected with politics, religion, and memory in the ancient world.
• Key moments in early reception that influenced later Christian and Judaic thought.

Ideal for readers of historical analysis, religious history, and studies of early Christianity and Gnosticism.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0484029134
• ISBN 13: 9780484029131
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 297