Herod the Great

Herod ( , Hordos , Greek : , Hērōidēs ), also known as Herod I or Herod the Great (born 74 BC, died 4 BC in Jericho , according to other data, 1 BC ), was a Jewish Roman client king of Israel . He was described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis ." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and other parts of the ancient world, including the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple . Some details of his biography can be gleaned from the works of the 1st century AD Roman-Jewish historian Josephus Flavius . His son Herod Antipas , who continued the Herodian dynasty , was ruler of Galilee (4 BC - 39 AD) during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth .

Herod ( / ˈ h ɛr ə d / ; , Hordos , Greek : Ἡρῴδης , Hērōdēs ; 74/73 BCE – 4 BCE), also known as Herod the Great and Herod I , was a Roman client king of Judea , referred to as the Herodian kingdom . He has been described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis ", "the evil genius of the Judean nation", "prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition", and "the greatest builder in Jewish history". 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 CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus . 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 east of the Jordan, and Salome I was given a toparchy including the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, Phasaelis. Herod: King of the Jews and friend of the Romans , (Continuum International Publishing Group, 1999) pp. xv–xx. A History of the Christian Tradition: From its Jewish Origins to the Reformation Volume 1 of A History of the Christian Tradition . The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition, Volume II: The Words and Will of God The Words And Will of God . King Herod: a persecuted persecutor : a case study in psychohistory and psychobiography . Crash Course in Jewish History . "Herod: Herod the Great" , Catholic Encyclopedia (1910): "Herod, surnamed the Great, called by Grätz "the evil genius of the Judean nation" ( Hist ., v. Herod I at Jewish Encyclopedia : "above all, he was prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition"

Roman client king of Judea This article is about the king of Judea, 37–4 BC. Herod I ( / ˈ h ɛr ə d / ; Hebrew : הוֹרְדוֹס , Modern : Hordos , Tiberian : Hōreḏōs ; Greek : Ἡρῴδης Hērǭdēs ; c. 73–4 BCE), also known as Herod the Great , 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 renovation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of the Temple Mount towards its north, the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron , 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 CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus . Herod also appears in the Christian Gospel of Matthew as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus , although a majority of Herod biographers do not believe this event to have occurred. 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 Judea , Samaria , and Idumea ; 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 . The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition, Volume II: The Words and Will of God The Words And Will of God . King Herod: a persecuted persecutor : a case study in psychohistory and psychobiography . Josephus , Antiquities ( 15.11.6 – 7 ); cf. Josephus, The Jewish War ( 1.21.1 ). Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple sanctuary and expanded the Temple Mount at its north side around the older Temple courts, and "enclosed an area double the former size." Formerly, according to the Mishnah ( Middot 2:1 ), the Temple Mount had measured 500 cubits x 500 cubits square, and its expansion was done to accommodate the pilgrims. The Ancient Jews from Alexander to Muhammad .

King of Judea (37/6 BCE–4/1 BCE) This article is about the Roman-appointed king of Judea. Herod I or Herod the Great ( c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE ) was a Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian Kingdom of Judea . He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea . Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base —the Western Wall being part of it. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus . Herod also appears in the Christian Gospel of Matthew as the ruler of Judea who orders the Massacre of the Innocents at the time of the birth of Jesus , although most Herod biographers do not believe that this event occurred. Despite his successes, including singlehandedly forging a new aristocracy from practically nothing, he has still been criticised by various historians. His reign polarizes opinion among historians, some viewing his legacy as evidence of success, and some viewing it as a reminder of his tyrannical rule. Upon Herod's death, the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister: Herod Archelaus became ethnarch of Judea , Samaria , and Idumea ; Herod Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea ; Philip became tetrarch of territories north and east of the Jordan River ; and Salome I was given a toparchy including the cities of Jabneh , Ashdod , and Phasaelis . The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition, Volume II: The Words and Will of God The Words And Will of God . King Herod: a persecuted persecutor : a case study in psychohistory and psychobiography . Josephus , Antiquities ( 15.11.6 – 7 ); cf. Josephus, The Jewish War ( 1.21.1 ). Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple sanctuary and expanded the Temple Mount at its north side around the older Temple courts, and "enclosed an area double the former size." Formerly, according to the Mishnah ( Middot 2:1 ), the Temple Mount had measured 500 cubits x 500 cubits square, and its expansion was done to accommodate the pilgrims. The Ancient Jews from Alexander to Muhammad . In Summers, Ray; Vardaman, Jerry (eds.). There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

1st century BCE King of Judea This article is about the Roman-appointed king of Judea. Herod I or Herod the Great ( c. 72 – c. 4 BCE ) was a Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian kingdom of Judea. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea . Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base —the Western Wall being part of it. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus . Despite Herod's successes, including forging a new aristocracy, he has been criticized by various historians. His reign polarizes opinion among historians, some viewing his legacy as evidence of success, and some viewing it as a reminder of his tyrannical rule. Herod the Great is described in the Christian Bible as the coordinator of the Massacre of the Innocents . However, most of the New Testament references are to his son Herod Antipas (such as the events leading to the executions of John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth in Matthew 14 ), or his grandson Herod Agrippa (in Acts 12 ). Upon Herod's death in 4 BCE, the Romans divided his kingdom among three of his sons and his sister: his son Herod Antipas received the tetrarchy of Galilee and Peraea . Other family members of Herod the Great include Herod's son Herod Archelaus who became ethnarch of Judea, Samaria , and Idumea ; Herod's son Philip who became tetrarch of territories north and east of the Jordan River ; and Herod's sister Salome I , who was given a toparchy including the cities of Jabneh , Ashdod , and Fasayil (Phasaelis). The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition: The Words and Will of God The Words And Will of God . King Herod: a persecuted persecutor: a case study in psychohistory and psychobiography . Antiquities of the Jews , 15.11.6 . Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple sanctuary and expanded the Temple Mount at its north side around the older Temple courts, and "enclosed an area double the former size." Formerly, according to the Mishnah ( Middot 2:1 ), the Temple Mount had measured 500 × 500 cubits square, and its expansion was done to accommodate the pilgrims. The Jewish War , 1.21.1 . The Ancient Jews from Alexander to Muhammad . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).