Sikariukset ensimmäisen vuosisadan Palestiinassa: terroristiliikkeen prototyyppi?

Authors

• Jukka Paastela

Abstract

Terrorism is often considered a phenomenon of the relatively recent history, originating from the late 19th century. The aim of this article is to point out that this is not the case. Therefore, the subject of the article is the oldest known occurrence of a terrorist group, the Sicarii in Palestine. It is shown that the movement had many similarities with modern terrorist groupings. The Sicarii practised assassinations (especially of the priests of the Temple of Jerusalem), kidnappings and looting in the countryside. Its story ended in the Masada castle in 73 or 74, encircled by the Roman troops. Instead of surrender to the Romans, the group committed a collective suicide (children included) not dissimilar to some modern cases, such as the millenarian sects of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown and of L’Ordre du Temple Solaire with which the Sicarii group is compared.