Definition: "Essenes ("Judah" in some Qumran writings) were members of one of the three orders of Jews during the Second Temple Period; a separatist group that formed an ascetic monastic community and, in response to apocalyptic visions, retreated to the wilderness."
-Library of Congress
-Library of Congress
The Essenes came to international attention with the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls in a Qumran cave. These scrolls are thought to represent the Essenes or to have been written by them. The Dead Sea scrolls include the Hebrew Bible. Excavations have found evidence of what may have been the Essene monastery's latrine. See More on the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Essenes' Toilet.
Examples: Josephus wrote about the Essenes as one of 3 Jewish sects in the Second Temple Period. Besides the Essenes, Josephus lists the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
