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Herod the Great

Updated: 12/30/2025, 12:47:23 PM Wikipedia source

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. 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. Many of the crucial 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 historians’ opinions, some viewing his legacy as evidence of success, and some viewing it as evidence of tyranny. Herod the Great is described in the Christian Bible as the coordinator of the Massacre of the Innocents. 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).

Infobox

Reign
mw- 37–4 BCE (Schürer) 36–1 BCE (Filmer)
Born
c. 72 BCEIdumea, Hasmonean Judea
Died
March–April 4 BCE (Schürer) January–April 1 BCE (Filmer) Jericho, Herodian kingdom, Roman Empire
Burial
Most likely the Herodium
Spouse
Doris Mariamne I Mariamne II Malthace Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Issueamong others
Antipater II Alexander Herod Archelaus Herod Antipas Philip
Dynasty
Herodian
Father
Antipater the Idumaean
Mother
Cypros
Religion
Second Temple Judaism

Tables

Herod's wives and children · Family › Wives and children
Doris
Doris
Wife
Doris
Children
Son Antipater II, executed 4 BCE
Mariamne I, daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros and Alexandra the Maccabee, executed 29 BCE
Mariamne I, daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros and Alexandra the Maccabee, executed 29 BCE
Wife
Mariamne I, daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros and Alexandra the Maccabee, executed 29 BCE
Children
Son Alexander, executed 7 BCE Son Aristobulus IV, executed 7 BCE Daughter Salampsio Daughter Cypros
Mariamne II, daughter of High-Priest Simon
Mariamne II, daughter of High-Priest Simon
Wife
Mariamne II, daughter of High-Priest Simon
Children
Son Herod II
Malthace
Malthace
Wife
Malthace
Children
Son Herod Archelaus – ethnarch Son Herod Antipas – tetrarch Daughter Olympias
Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Wife
Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Children
Son Philip the Tetrarch Son Herod
Pallas
Pallas
Wife
Pallas
Children
Son Phasael
Phaidra
Phaidra
Wife
Phaidra
Children
Daughter Roxanne
Elpis
Elpis
Wife
Elpis
Children
Daughter Salome
A cousin (name unknown)
A cousin (name unknown)
Wife
A cousin (name unknown)
Children
none known
A niece (name unknown)
A niece (name unknown)
Wife
A niece (name unknown)
Children
none known
Wife
Children
Doris
Son Antipater II, executed 4 BCE
Mariamne I, daughter of Hasmonean Alexandros and Alexandra the Maccabee, executed 29 BCE
Son Alexander, executed 7 BCE Son Aristobulus IV, executed 7 BCE Daughter Salampsio Daughter Cypros
Mariamne II, daughter of High-Priest Simon
Son Herod II
Malthace
Son Herod Archelaus – ethnarch Son Herod Antipas – tetrarch Daughter Olympias
Cleopatra of Jerusalem
Son Philip the Tetrarch Son Herod
Pallas
Son Phasael
Phaidra
Daughter Roxanne
Elpis
Daughter Salome
A cousin (name unknown)
none known
A niece (name unknown)
none known
· External links
Preceded byAntigonus
Preceded byAntigonus
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Preceded byAntigonus
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
King of the Jews 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Succeeded byHerod Archelaus
Ruler of Galilee 37–4 BCE
Ruler of Galilee 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Ruler of Galilee 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Succeeded byHerod Antipas
Ruler of Batanea 37–4 BCE
Ruler of Batanea 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Ruler of Batanea 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Succeeded byPhilip
Ruler of Iamnia 37–4 BCE
Ruler of Iamnia 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Ruler of Iamnia 37–4 BCE
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Succeeded bySalome I
Herod the Great Herodian dynastyBorn: c. 72 BCE Died: 4 or 1 BCE
Preceded byAntigonus
King of the Jews 37–4 BCE
Succeeded byHerod Archelaus
Ruler of Galilee 37–4 BCE
Succeeded byHerod Antipas
Ruler of Batanea 37–4 BCE
Succeeded byPhilip
Ruler of Iamnia 37–4 BCE
Succeeded bySalome I

References

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