ananus ben ananus (hebrew: חנן בן חנן "hanan ben hanan" greek: ἀνάνου ἄνανος "ananos son of ananos" var: ananias, latin: anani ananus or ananus filius anani), d. 68 ce, was a herodian-era high priest of israel in jerusalem, iudaea province. he was the high priest who ordered the execution by stoning of james the brother of jesus (james the just), according to the surviving manuscripts of "the antiquities of the jews". however, popular opinion against hanan due to this act led the recently appointed roman governor lucceius albinus to depose the high priest, after only three months. ananus was succeeded by jesus ben damneus, who was himself deposed before the end of the year.