From Hebrew tsedduqim, "followers of Zadok," a high priest who anointed King Solomon; flourished from the mid-second century BC until the late first century AD; according to Josephus, one of the four social groups in first-century Judaism (Essenes, Pharisees, and Zealots). The Sadducees denied a physical resurrection, accepted only the Torah as inspired Scripture, and were connected closely to the temple leadership. When the temple was destroyed in AD 70, the movement ceased to exist. See also Essenes; Pharisees; resurrection; temple, Herod's; Torah.