1st century AD) is the name of a Jew from the Second Temple period from the city of Apamea in Northwestern Syria, on the bank of the Orontes River.
[2] Josephus notes the existence of a Jewish community in the city of Apamea during the period in which Ariston would have lived.
[4]This Ariston, due to his important position enough to bring his offerings to the Temple and be recorded, paired with his clear prominence in the archaelogical record, has caused some scholars to connect the two as the same figure.
[5][6] This connection is noted as remarkable by some academics, as the number of Roman-era Biblical figures identified through ossuaries is fairly small compared to other kinds of artifacts.
[7] Additionally, the fact that first fruit offerings from as far north as Syria were accepted have created questions in the Mishnah regarding the boundaries of what would have been considered Israel by the contemporary residents and government.