Atlas of Battles

siege, ancient

Zealot Temple Siege

Zealot Temple Siege was a siege conducted in AD 68 at Jerusalem, in what is now Israel. Its exact site is not recorded; the atlas places it at Jerusalem. It was part of First Jewish-Roman War, which ran from AD 66 to AD 74. The recorded result: Zealot victory; Moderate government overthrown; Execution of moderate leaders. Recorded strength: 2000 to 4000 zealots 20,000 Edomite (Idumeans) men against 6,000 men (temple guards and loyalists recruits).

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Southern steps of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem.
Southern steps of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem.. Wilson44691, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtAD 68
WhereJerusalem, Israel31.777N, 35.234E, placed at the location, approximate
OutcomeZealot victory; Moderate government overthrown; Execution of moderate leaders
BelligerentsZealots; Idumeans; GalileansagainstJudean provisional government
Casualties and lossesUnknownand6,000, plus mass civilian casualties
Part ofFirst Jewish-Roman WarAD 66 to AD 74

Where it sits in First Jewish-Roman War

Battle of Beth Horon, AD 66Battle of Jerusalem, AD 66Battle of Gabaon, AD 66Siege of Ascalon, AD 67Battle of Joppa, AD 67Siege of Gush Halav, AD 67Siege of Gabara, AD 67Battle of Mount Gerizim, AD 67Siege of Japha, AD 67Siege of Yodfat, AD 67Siege of Gamala, AD 67Battle of Mount Tabor, AD 67Capture of Tarichaea, AD 68Zealot Temple Siege, AD 68Battle of Bethennabris, AD 68Battle of the Jordan River, AD 68Siege of Jerusalem, AD 70Siege of Machaerus, AD 71Siege of Masada, AD 72AD 66AD 72Zealot Temple Siege, AD 68
19 placed engagements of First Jewish-Roman War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateAD 68 (year precision)
PlaceJerusalem, Israel
31.777N, 35.234E
KindSiege, ancient
Strength2000 to 4000 zealots 20,000 Edomite (Idumeans) men6,000 men (temple guards and loyalists recruits)
Casualties and lossesUnknown6,000, plus mass civilian casualties
Commanders
  • Eleazar ben Simon
  • John of Giscala
  • Ananus ben Ananus
  • Joseph ben Gurion
Zealot Temple SiegeZealot Temple SiegeSiege of JerusalemSiege of JerusalemBattle of JerusalemBattle of JerusalemBattle of Mandelbaum GateBattle of JerusalemTel AvivAmmanGaza CityHaifaNablusEl ArishNazarethAl Karak100 km31.777N, 35.234E
Placed at Jerusalem; the exact site is not recorded. with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 68

Zealot Temple Siege is one of 57 engagements of the 1st century in the atlas and one of 152 in present-day Israel.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q8068200, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Zealot coup in Jerusalem, revision 1370751520, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.