The Aftermath of the Revolt

‍Jewish sources recount that toward the end of the revolt, Bar Kokhba became arrogant. He killed his uncle, a beloved rabbi who lived in Beitar, based on a false accusation. According to the Talmud, on that same day—the Ninth of Av—the city of Beitar fell, a horrific massacre occurred, and there Bar Kokhba fought his final battle. Some sources refer to Bar Kokhba as “Bar Koziva,” meaning “son of the lie,” a reference to his being a false messiah.

Over half a million Jews died during the revolt, and some estimates say even more. Hadrian destroyed Jerusalem to its foundations—either as a provocation or perhaps as a result of the revolt. He built a new city there, naming it Aelia Capitolina, a reference to his family name, Aelia gens, and the word Capitolina, which refers to the Roman pagan triad. Jews were banned from entering the city, and as an additional insult, Hadrian changed the name of the province of Judea to Syria Palaestina, better known as “Roman Palestine”—a Latinized version of the name Philistia, the Philistine Pentapolis from the time of King David. The Philistines had disappeared from history long before the rise of the Roman Empire.

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