Simonides was a minor hero in the novel Ben-Hur and subsequent movies. He was a servant of the House of Hur for many years, serving both Judah Ben-Hur and his father before him. Sometime before 26 AD Simonides had married and had a daughter named Esther. He became the steward of the House of Hur, acting as the Hur family business manager. In 26 AD he came to Jerusalem with Esther to give an accounting of his work to Hur, and also so that Esther could receive permission to marry.