Simonides

Simonides was a minor hero in the novel Ben-Hur and subsequent movies. He was a servant of the House of Hur for many years, serving both Judah Ben-Hur and his father before him.

Sometime before 26 AD Simonides had married and had a daughter named Esther. He became the steward of the House of Hur, acting as the Hur family business manager. In 26 AD he came to Jerusalem with Esther to give an accounting of his work to Hur, and also so that Esther could receive permission to marry.

Soon afterwards when the Roman prefect Gratus arrived there was an accident when some roof tiles fell, startling the horse carrying the Governor. The horse threw Gratus, seriously injuring him. Hur and his family were taken prisoner by the Romans. Simonides came to plead the Hur's family case with the Romans, and he too was taken prisoner.

Put into a Roman prison, Simonides was beaten to the point where he lost the ability to walk. He also aged considerably in appearance while in prison. While there he met a man named Malluch, who had his ability to speak taken from him by the Romans. The two became friends during their stay in prison, and remained together after their release. Malluch would carry Simonides from place to place, while Simonides spoke for his friend as needed.

After his release Simonides and Malluch were reunited with Esther, and the three of them scraped out a meager existence in Hur's former home. Upon his return to Jerusalem Hur found the three of them in his home. Glad to see his master and friend still alive he reassured Hur that much of the family fortune was still safe, that despite the torture he had not given it up to the Romans.

The experience of being imprisoned made Simonides a bitter and angry man. His daughter Esther would later note to Hur that her father was burned up as a result of all his hatred.

Novel
In the novel Simonides was present at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. During the crucifixion Christ granted him the same understanding that he had given Ben-Hur and Balthazar. He lived to be a very old man and was alive in the tenth year of Nero's reign in 64 AD. By then he was a wealthy merchant living in Antioch. He and Hur gave their fortunes to support the nascent Christian communities in the Empire.