Ben Hur

SYNOPSIS

Arrius presents Judah to the duplicitous emperor Tiberias who pits him against a Thracian wrestler,Judah winning. Arrius dies,leaving Judah his estates and Judah returns to Jerusalem,buying his old house,which has become derelict, from governor Pilate. He locates Simonides and Esther,whom David is trying to force to marry him and Judah kills David after he has attacked him from behind, Initiallly Esther does not believe how Judah attained his good fortune and assumes he was protected by Messala all along but Simonides realises the truth and convinces her. Esther takes food to lepers,outcasts from the city,and and finds they number Ruth and Tirzah,who swear her not to tell Judah of their plight. Marcellus,his mistress Athene and Messala return to Jerusalem of which Messala is tipped to be the next governor. Games are due to take place and Judah convinces stable owner Sheikh Ilderim to be his charioteer in a race whose contestants also include Messala. Messala disposes of the other ...