Statement

For a long time, Bar Kochba was more legend than history. Greek and Roman authors say little; Christian and rabbinic texts, written much later and already aware of the tragic outcome, make him a bandit and a false messiah, with much that is legendary. Even his name was uncertain: 'Son of a Star' (Bar Kochba), as in Christian sources, or 'Son of a Liar' (Bar Kozeba), as in rabbinic ones?

References

1. p. 102

   supports · boxed feature · ch. 4

   Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.

   Section: Letters From a Rebel

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