A Jewish sect that thrived in the first century c.e. While the Christian Bible speaks of the Sadducees and Pharisees, it never mentions the Essenes. In addition to Josephus’ description of the Essenes, they are also discussed by another first century c.e. Jewish writer, Philo, and by the first-century Roman, Pliny the Elder. They separated themselves from the rest of their fellow Jews to practice a strict observance to the Jewish law. See also Rabbis of antiquity.