Elionaeus, Son of Cantheras

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ELIONAEUS, SON OF CANTHERAS

ELIONAEUS, SON OF CANTHERAS (or Cithaerus ), high priest 43–44 c.e. Elionaeus was appointed by *Agrippa i. It is not clear whether he is to be identified with the "Cantheras" who was deposed by Herod of Chalcis and was succeeded by Joseph, the son of Camei (Kimḥit; Jos., Ant., 20:16). The Mishnah refers to him as Elioneiai b. ha-Kof (Par. 3:5), one of the few high priests who prepared the ashes of the *red heifer.

bibliography:

Jos., Ant., 19:342; Schuerer, Gesch, 2 (19074), 271, no. 19; Klausner, Bayit Sheni, 4 (19502), 300ff.

[Edna Elazary]

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