OLOFERNE, OLOFERNUS. Holofernes was the Assyrian general of Nebuchadnezzar's armies. He attacked the Jewish city of Bethulia and besieged it for a month. Just when surrender seemed imminent, he received a visit from a beautiful widow, Judith, and entertained her at a feast. When he was drunk, she slew him, cut off his head, and gave it to her maid to put in a sack (Judith 1-16). Judith appears among femmes de bon conseil, "women of good counsel," in Liber consolationis et consilii (The Book of Consolation and Counsel) V by Albertanus of Brescia (1246).

The Man of Law asks: "Who gave Judith courage to slay Olofernus in his tent and deliver God's people?" MLT 939-942. Judith's counsel saves her country from Oloferne, MerchT 1368, Mel 1099. The story of Olofernus appears among the Monk's tragedies, MkT 2551-2574. [Abigayl: Judith: Rebekka]

Oloferne, the ME and OF variant, appears once medially, with final syllabic -e, MkT 2556, and once in final rhyming position, with final syllabic -e, MkT 2567. Olofernus, a variant of Latin Holofernus, appears twice, medially, MLT 940; MerchT 1368, and once in Mel 1099. Latin initial h was not pronounced.