'''Idumeans''' also known as '''Red Jews''' and '''Hyrcanians''' are Mithraists. They are the spiritual descendants of Edomites forcibly converted to Judaism by John Hyrcanus around 100BC when he ordered the entire population to be enslaved and then freed. Their name Hyrcanians comes from John Hyrcanus. They are also known as '''Ercolians''' or '''Hyrcanian Jews'''.
Although Hyrcanians accept the Mishna they do not have a very sophisticated understanding of Judaism and are comparable to Samaritans, Falashahs and other kinds of Karaites such as the 5th century Ishmaelites described by [[Sozomenus]].
