Alabastron is historical fiction set in first century Judea during the three - year ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The narrative unfolds through two characters: Simon the Zealot, who is listed in the third chapter of Mark as the eleventh disciple, and Mary Batasha - bas - Hillel, a fictionalized representation of Mary Magdalene. It is both a love story and a depiction of their separate spiritual journeys before coming together in one accord at the end of the novel. Unlike other depictions of Mary Magdalene, this novel brings the reader to the teachings of Jesus through the lives of these characters.