Hadrian and the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135 CE)
1. Background: Jerusalem and Hadrian’s Policies
In 130 CE, Emperor Hadrian visited Judaea, a province still scarred by the First Jewish–Roman War (66–73 CE) and the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.
During his visit, Hadrian decided to rebuild Jerusalem as a Roman colony, renaming it Aelia Capitolina — Aelia from his family name, Aelius, and Capitolina in honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, the chief Roman god.
On the site of the ruined Jewish Temple, Hadrian ordered the construction of a temple to Jupiter, an act that deeply offended Jewish religious sentiment.
He also banned circumcision, viewing it as a form of “mutilation” contrary to Roman ideals of bodily integrity.
These policies were perceived as direct assaults on Jewish faith and identity, igniting widespread resentment.
2. The Revolt: Simon bar Kokhba’s Leadership
The rebellion broke out in 132 CE, led by Simon bar Kokhba, who was hailed by many Jews — including the prominent scholar Rabbi Akiva (Akiba ben Joseph) — as the Messiah.
Bar Kokhba’s forces achieved early successes, expelling the Romans from much of Judaea and establishing an independent Jewish state for about two years.
However, Hadrian responded with overwhelming force. He recalled his best general, Sextus Julius Severus, from Britain and brought reinforcements from across the empire, including troops from the Danube and Euphrates frontiers.
3. The Roman Campaign and Aftermath
The Roman army suffered severe losses — one entire legion, the XXII Deiotariana, may have been annihilated — and Hadrian’s official report to the Senate notably omitted the traditional formula “I and the legions are well.”
After three years of brutal fighting, the rebellion was crushed in 135 CE. The final stronghold, Beitar (about 10 km southwest of Jerusalem), fell after a prolonged siege. According to Cassius Dio, the Romans killed 580,000 Jews, destroyed 50 fortified towns and 985 villages, and enslaved countless others.
Hadrian forbade Jewish burial of the dead at Beitar and intensified persecution:
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The Torah, Hebrew calendar, and Jewish law were outlawed.
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Religious leaders and scholars were executed.
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Sacred scrolls were publicly burned on the Temple Mount.
4. Reorganization of Judaea
To erase Jewish national identity, Hadrian:
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Renamed Judaea as Syria Palaestina, reviving the name of the ancient Philistines, traditional enemies of the Israelites.
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Banned Jews from entering Jerusalem, except on the day of Tisha B’Av, when they were allowed to mourn the Temple’s destruction.
5. Legacy
Hadrian’s policies after the revolt marked a turning point in Jewish history:
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The Jewish population of Judaea was decimated and dispersed.
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The center of Jewish life shifted to the Galilee and later to the Diaspora (notably Babylon).
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In Jewish memory, Hadrian became a symbol of cruelty and desecration; rabbinic sources refer to him with the curse “Yemach shemo ve’zikro” (“May his name and memory be erased”) or “May his bones be crushed.”
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