Herod the Great

Herod the Great, born in seventy-four BCE, was a prominent Roman Jewish client king who ruled over the Herodian kingdom of Judea. Renowned for his ambitious building projects, he is best remembered for the monumental reconstruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which included the expansion of its base, famously known as the Western Wall. His reign is extensively documented by the first-century Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, who provides crucial insights into his life and governance.

Despite his notable achievements, including the establishment of a new aristocracy, Herod's rule has faced criticism from historians who label it as tyrannical. His legacy is further complicated by his portrayal in the Christian Bible, where he is infamously associated with the Massacre of the Innocents. Other references to 'Herod' in the New Testament typically pertain to his son, Herod Antipas, and grandson, Herod Agrippa, who played significant roles in the narratives surrounding John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth.

Upon Herod's death, his kingdom was divided among his three sons and his sister. Herod Antipas received the tetrarchy of Galilee and Peraea, while Herod Archelaus became the ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Herod's son Philip was appointed tetrarch of the territories north and east of the Jordan River, and his sister Salome I was granted a toparchy that included the cities of Jabneh, Ashdod, and Phasaelis.