Herod the Great
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(New page: '''Herod''' (/ˈ|h|ɛr|ə|d/; Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Modern: ''Hōrədōs'', Tiberian vocalization: ''Hōreḏōs'', [[Koine Greek|G...) |
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Upon Herod's death the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister—[[Herod Archelaus|Archelaus]] became [[ethnarch]] of the [[Tetrarchy (Judea)|tetrarchy of Judea]], [[Herod Antipas]] became tetrarch of [[Galilee]] and [[Perea (Holy Land)|Peraea]], [[Philip the Tetrarch|Philip]] became tetrarch of territories north and east of the Jordan, and [[Salome I]] was given a [[toparchy]] including the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis. | Upon Herod's death the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister—[[Herod Archelaus|Archelaus]] became [[ethnarch]] of the [[Tetrarchy (Judea)|tetrarchy of Judea]], [[Herod Antipas]] became tetrarch of [[Galilee]] and [[Perea (Holy Land)|Peraea]], [[Philip the Tetrarch|Philip]] became tetrarch of territories north and east of the Jordan, and [[Salome I]] was given a [[toparchy]] including the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis. | ||
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| + | ==Biography== | ||
| + | [[Image:Herod coin1.jpg|thumb|Copper coin of Herod, bearing the legend "ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΗΡΩΔΟΥ" ("[[Basileus|Basileōs]] Hērōdou") on the obverse]] | ||
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| + | It is generally accepted that Herod was born around 73 BCE in [[Idumea]], south of Judea. He was the second son of [[Antipater the Idumaean]], a high-ranking official under [[ethnarch]] [[Hyrcanus II]], and Cypros, a [[Nabatean]]. Herod's father was by descent an [[Edomite]], descendants of Esau, whose ancestors had converted to [[Judaism]]. Herod was raised as a Jew. | ||
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| + | A loyal supporter of Hyrcanus II, Antipater appointed his son Herod [[governor]] of [[Galilee]] in 47 BC, when Herod was either about 25 or 28 years old. His elder brother, [[Phasael]], was appointed governor of Jerusalem. Herod enjoyed the backing of Rome, but his brutality was condemned by the [[Sanhedrin]]. | ||
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| + | In 41 BC, Herod and his brother Phasael were named as [[tetrarchs]] by the Roman leader [[Mark Antony]]. They were placed in this role to support Hyrcanus II. Later, [[Antigonus the Hasmonean|Antigonus]], Hyrcanus' nephew, took the throne from his uncle with [[Pompeian–Parthian invasion of 40 BC|the help]] of the [[Parthian Empire|Parthians]]. Herod fled to Rome to plead with the Romans to restore Hyrcanus II to power. The Romans had a special interest in Judea because their general [[Pompey the Great]] had conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC, thus placing the region in the Roman sphere of influence. In Rome, Herod was unexpectedly appointed [[Herodian Dynasty|King of the Jews]] by the [[Roman Senate]]. Josephus puts this in the year of the [[Roman consul|consulship]] of [[Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus|Calvinus]] and [[Gaius Asinius Pollio (consul 40 BCE)|Pollio]] (40 BC), but [[Appian]] places it in 39 BC. Herod went back to Judea to win his kingdom from Antigonus. Toward the end of the campaign against Antigonus, Herod married the granddaughter of Hyrcanus II, [[Mariamne I|Mariamne]] (known as Mariamne I), who was also a [[Nephew and niece|niece]] of Antigonus. Herod did this in an attempt to secure his claim to the throne and gain some Jewish favor. However, Herod already had a wife, Doris, and a young son, [[Antipater (son of Herod I)|Antipater]], and chose therefore to banish Doris and her child. | ||
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| + | After three years of conflict, Herod and the Romans finally [[Siege of Jerusalem (37 BCE)|captured Jerusalem]] and Herod sent Antigonus for execution to [[Marc Antony]]. Herod took the role as sole ruler of Judea and the title of ''[[basileus]]'' (Βασιλεύς, "king") for himself, ushering in the [[Herodian Dynasty]] and ending the [[Hasmonean Dynasty]]. Josephus reports this as being in the year of the consulship of [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa|Agrippa]] and [[Lucius Caninius Gallus|Gallus]] (37 BCE), but also says that it was exactly 27 years after Jerusalem fell to Pompey, which would indicate 36 BCE. [[Cassius Dio]] also reports that in 37 BCE "the Romans accomplished nothing worthy of note" in the area.<ref>[[Cassius Dio|Dio]], ''Roman History'' 49.23.1–2.</ref> According to Josephus, Herod ruled for 37 years, 34 of them after capturing Jerusalem. | ||
| + | [[Image:Jerusalem Modell BW 2.JPG|thumb|Model of Herod's Temple]] | ||
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| + | As some believe Herod's family were converts to Judaism, his religious commitment was questioned by some elements of Jewish society. When [[John Hyrcanus]] conquered the region of Idumaea (the [[Edom]] of the [[Hebrew Bible]]) in 140–130 BC, he required all Idumaeans to obey [[613 Commandments|Jewish law]] or to leave; most Idumaeans thus converted to Judaism, which meant that they had to be [[Circumcision in the Bible|circumcised]], and many had intermarried with the Jews and adopted their customs. While Herod publicly identified himself as a Jew and was considered as such by some, this religious identification was undermined by the decadent lifestyle of the [[Herodians]], which would have earned them the antipathy of observant Jews. | ||
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| + | Herod later executed several members of his own family, including his wife [[Mariamne I]]. | ||
Revision as of 19:54, 6 November 2018
Herod (/ˈ|h|ɛr|ə|d/; Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס, Modern: Hōrədōs, Tiberian vocalization: Hōreḏōs, Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs; 74/73 BC -; c. 4 BC), also known as Herod the Great and Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. The history of his legacy has polarized opinion, as he is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea, including his expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (Herod's Temple), the construction of the port at Caesarea Maritima, the fortress at Masada, and Herodium. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century AD Roman–Jewish historian Josephus. Herod also appears in the Gospel of Matthew as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus. Despite his successes, including singlehandedly forging a new aristocracy from practically nothing, he has still garnered criticism from various historians. His reign polarizes opinion amongst scholars and historians, some viewing his legacy as evidence of success, and some as a reminder of his tyrannical rule.
Upon Herod's death the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister—Archelaus became ethnarch of the tetrarchy of Judea, Herod Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, Philip became tetrarch of territories north and east of the Jordan, and Salome I was given a toparchy including the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis.
Biography
It is generally accepted that Herod was born around 73 BCE in Idumea, south of Judea. He was the second son of Antipater the Idumaean, a high-ranking official under ethnarch Hyrcanus II, and Cypros, a Nabatean. Herod's father was by descent an Edomite, descendants of Esau, whose ancestors had converted to Judaism. Herod was raised as a Jew.
A loyal supporter of Hyrcanus II, Antipater appointed his son Herod governor of Galilee in 47 BC, when Herod was either about 25 or 28 years old. His elder brother, Phasael, was appointed governor of Jerusalem. Herod enjoyed the backing of Rome, but his brutality was condemned by the Sanhedrin.
In 41 BC, Herod and his brother Phasael were named as tetrarchs by the Roman leader Mark Antony. They were placed in this role to support Hyrcanus II. Later, Antigonus, Hyrcanus' nephew, took the throne from his uncle with the help of the Parthians. Herod fled to Rome to plead with the Romans to restore Hyrcanus II to power. The Romans had a special interest in Judea because their general Pompey the Great had conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC, thus placing the region in the Roman sphere of influence. In Rome, Herod was unexpectedly appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate. Josephus puts this in the year of the consulship of Calvinus and Pollio (40 BC), but Appian places it in 39 BC. Herod went back to Judea to win his kingdom from Antigonus. Toward the end of the campaign against Antigonus, Herod married the granddaughter of Hyrcanus II, Mariamne (known as Mariamne I), who was also a niece of Antigonus. Herod did this in an attempt to secure his claim to the throne and gain some Jewish favor. However, Herod already had a wife, Doris, and a young son, Antipater, and chose therefore to banish Doris and her child.
After three years of conflict, Herod and the Romans finally captured Jerusalem and Herod sent Antigonus for execution to Marc Antony. Herod took the role as sole ruler of Judea and the title of basileus (Βασιλεύς, "king") for himself, ushering in the Herodian Dynasty and ending the Hasmonean Dynasty. Josephus reports this as being in the year of the consulship of Agrippa and Gallus (37 BCE), but also says that it was exactly 27 years after Jerusalem fell to Pompey, which would indicate 36 BCE. Cassius Dio also reports that in 37 BCE "the Romans accomplished nothing worthy of note" in the area.<ref>Dio, Roman History 49.23.1–2.</ref> According to Josephus, Herod ruled for 37 years, 34 of them after capturing Jerusalem.
As some believe Herod's family were converts to Judaism, his religious commitment was questioned by some elements of Jewish society. When John Hyrcanus conquered the region of Idumaea (the Edom of the Hebrew Bible) in 140–130 BC, he required all Idumaeans to obey Jewish law or to leave; most Idumaeans thus converted to Judaism, which meant that they had to be circumcised, and many had intermarried with the Jews and adopted their customs. While Herod publicly identified himself as a Jew and was considered as such by some, this religious identification was undermined by the decadent lifestyle of the Herodians, which would have earned them the antipathy of observant Jews.
Herod later executed several members of his own family, including his wife Mariamne I.
