This is the record of Sharlappius Avramus of Palmyra, Roman citizen descended from the people of Sinai, who endeavors in the following volume to tell the history of the Judean decline from the height of Maccabee power to the fall of Western Rome so that time shall not dim the shame of deeds perpetrated, nor the heroism of those who fought against them. It is a story of a perpetually old land forever made new by holy acts offset by acts the height of ignominy. It is a record of deeds famous and infamous, and deeds obscure and obscured by time. It is offered to the glory of Christ and his empires on earth as they are in Heaven, in whose service all deeds are free from disgrace.
Ame
135 BC, 619 Ab urbe condita, 3626-7
1. John the Hasmonean, nom-de-guerre Hyrcanus, youngest brother of First Liberator Judah the Hasmonean, nom-de-guerre Maccabee, was left behind to mind affairs of state while his brother's family journeyed to the Wadi of Nahal David for a family wedding, joining the house of Hasmonea with the House of Ptolemy-ben-Abbus, Greek-appointed governor of Jericho. Within mere half day, John received a letter notifying him of the assassination of Simon Maccabee, nom-de-guerre Thassi, High Priest and Third Liberator of the Hasmonean Revolutionary Party, Conquerer of Gaza, Jaffa, and Yavneh, Besieger of Dor, defender against the Medians, ally of King Demitrius II Necator of Greece, defender against Demitrius's brother Prince Trypho, Brother of First Liberator Judah Maccabee; assassinated at his own daughter's wedding amid a toast to the Revolutionary Party. Simon's daughter, Hannah, became both wife of Ptolemy-ben-Abbus, and also his prisoner, along with Simon's two sons, Judah and Matthias, and the matriarch of the Hasmonean dynasty: Miriam Solomonia. Simon was the third of John's brothers to die in office as Secretary General and the second to be assassinated. Upon the assassination, at an age of two score, John Hyrcanus became the final surviving Maccabee brother of the Hasmonean Revolution, and assumed the name John Hyrcanus Maccabee, Fourth Liberator of the Hasmonean Revolutionary Party.
2. A mere few hours after receiving the letter, an attempt was made on the life of John Hyrcanus, whereupon the final Maccabee brother slew the assassins. And but a few hours thereafter an army of Ptolemy-ben-Abbus attempted to breech the walls of Jerusalem and mounted the walls along with Hannah, Judah, Matthias, and Miriam Solomonia - all of whom were bedecked in chains. Ptolemy-ben-Abbus immediately ordered the beating of the Hasmonean prisoners in front of the Jerusalemites with pieces of bone heated in a fire. Upon her flaying, Miriam Solomonia uttered the following speech to her son and the people of Jerusalem:
3. "Oh, my son, Johannes Hyrcanus, who chose the name in war of Hyrcania, land of the wolves lain to ruin by Mithridates of Ponthus, the Anatolian scourge of the Medians, Achaemenians, Seleucids, and Parthians! Hold fast your intent! Our torture is but a shadow on your torment watching Ptolemy inflict his agony upon us. Succumb not to fear nor to the Ptolemaic lacerations! Such moments are to us as but titilations on the soul, which belongs to the Holy One! Blessed be His name! Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge our name! You and only you are the Lord's Chosen Defender, Ruler of the Judeans, Fourth Liberator of the Revolution, appointed for your task by the Holy One Without End! Never acquiesce! Never concede! Tremble not! Quaver not! For the Lord is one and He is with you!"
4. Whereupon the Hasmonean matriarch and her grandchildren fell through their irons to their deaths upon the hallowed Jerusalem ground; and the people of Jerusalem, repulsed by their flaying and cherishing the honor of the Revolution, massacred the entire army of Ptolemy-ben-Abbus.
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