The Essenes (Essenoi), were the attendants of the Temple of Artemis, in Ephesus (see the 3rd century BCE inscriptions- Syll_352 , Syll_354, Syll_363).
Philo properly identified the Qumran group as Essaoi (Essaens, after Essa in Decapolis, in modern Jordan). They were Nasoreans (not “Nazarenes”), and always identified by ancient geographers, coming from east of the Jordan River (which the Gospel of John even claimed). They are currently called Mandaens (named after the laity, not the priestly caste).
Josephus inexplicably confused the two, yet (allegedly) was from Joffa. That seems more of an error a Roman would make, not an orthodox Jew.
“Nazaret” itself, is a reflection of this. It’s the Greek form of Eretz of the n-s-r (“Keepers”). It wasn’t the name of a fictitious town in Galilee (which Josephus literally lived 1 mile away from, yet never mentions).
The Essenes (Essenoi), were the attendants of the Temple of Artemis, in Ephesus (see the 3rd century BCE inscriptions- Syll_352 , Syll_354, Syll_363).
Philo properly identified the Qumran group as Essaoi (Essaens, after Essa in Decapolis, in modern Jordan). They were Nasoreans (not “Nazarenes”), and always identified by ancient geographers, coming from east of the Jordan River (which the Gospel of John even claimed). They are currently called Mandaens (named after the laity, not the priestly caste).
Josephus inexplicably confused the two, yet (allegedly) was from Joffa. That seems more of an error a Roman would make, not an orthodox Jew.
“Nazaret” itself, is a reflection of this. It’s the Greek form of Eretz of the n-s-r (“Keepers”). It wasn’t the name of a fictitious town in Galilee (which Josephus literally lived 1 mile away from, yet never mentions).