Akiva ben Joseph (ca.17–ca.137 CE) simply known as Rabbi Akiva, is a tanna of the latter part of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century (3rd tannaitic generation).

He is a great authority in the matter of Jewish tradition, and one of the most central and essential contributors to the Mishnah and Midrash Halakha.

He is referred to in the Talmud as "Rosh la-Chachamim" (Head of all the Sages).

He is considered by tradition to be one of the earliest founders of rabbinical Judaism.

He is the seventh most frequently mentioned sage in the Mishnah.