Originally Posted by Newton's Cat

Simon of Cyrene had two sons, Alexander and Rufus

Simon bar Kochba had a son called Rufus ... who for a short period led the fight against the Romans after the death of his father.

Simon bar Kochba was declared by some to be the "Messiah"

The 130s ad uprising against the Romans, led by Simon, had its origins in Cyrene in 117 ad.

Conclusion:

The reference to Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus' cross was either added to a pre-existing story about Jesus ... or the story itself was not written until after the conclusion of the 130s conflict.

My personal opinion about the Story of Jesus is that it originated in a sophisticated PLAY written for an intellectual audience. I see it as having been written 100 years or so after the events it describes ... and that the author did not intend his audience to believe it to be a true story. I also feel that the story as we have it today in Mark is the product of a major alteration of the original text. It was the altered version that became a founding document of Christianity.

Originally Posted by DCHindley

Now I always thought the revolt in Egypt and Cyrene was unconnected with the one in Judea led by bar Kochba. It preceeded it but the latter was not a direct continuation of the former.

Bar Kochba from what I understand was most likely from the elite class in Judea of the time, recognized an opportunity to sieze independence, and did so.

DCH