JOHN of GISCALA. — A Jewish warrior, born at Giscala (now el-Giš), northwest of the Sea of Tiberias. Driven by deep anti-Roman hatred, he was one of the principal leaders of the revolt of 66–70.
Giscala was the last city of Galilee to surrender to Titus. J., having fled at the time of the surrender, took refuge in Jerusalem, where he established a reign of terror (Flavius Josephus, Bell. Iud., IV, 208 ff.) in his sector, engaged in continual guerrilla warfare against Eleazar and Simon (loc. cit., V, 21 ff.), while the Romans tightened their siege ever more closely. By a ruse, at Passover in 70, J. seized the sector held by Eleazar (loc. cit., 100 ff.); then, as the Roman conquest drew near, he made an agreement with Simon to continue the war against the foreigner (loc. cit., 278 ff.). After the city was taken in September 70, J. was sent to Rome to take part in Titus’s triumph. While Simon was put to death in the Tullianum on the day of the triumph, J. ended his life in captivity (loc. cit., VI, 434). Angelo Penna