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Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant

Victor Turner

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Herod the Great was a complex and enigmatic figure who ruled Judea from 37 to 4 BCE. He was a brilliant statesman and visionary, who transformed Jerusalem into a magnificent city and built massive fortresses and palaces throughout his kingdom. But he was also a ruthless tyrant, who slaughtered his rivals and committed many atrocities.

Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant

by Norman Gelb

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	783 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	228 pages

Herod was born in 73 BCE in Ascalon, in what is now Israel. His father, Antipater the Idumaean, was a high-ranking official in the Hasmonean kingdom of Judea. Herod's mother, Cypros, was a Nabatean princess. Herod grew up to be a handsome and charismatic young man, and he quickly rose through the ranks of the Hasmonean court.

In 40 BCE, Herod was appointed governor of Galilee. He proved to be a capable and ruthless ruler, and he quickly pacified the region. In 37 BCE, Herod was appointed king of Judea by the Roman Senate. He ruled Judea for 33 years, and during that time he transformed the kingdom into a major power in the Roman Empire.

Herod was a brilliant statesman and visionary. He reformed the Jewish legal system, introduced new agricultural techniques, and expanded the kingdom's borders. He also built massive fortresses and palaces throughout Judea, including the famous Herodion palace complex and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

But Herod was also a ruthless tyrant. He slaughtered his rivals, including his wife Mariamne and her sons. He also committed many atrocities, including the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem. Herod's reign was marked by fear and terror, and he was widely hated by his subjects.

Herod died in 4 BCE, and his kingdom was divided among his sons. Judea became a Roman province in 6 CE.

Herod's Legacy

Herod's legacy is complex and controversial. He was a brilliant statesman and visionary, who transformed Judea into a major power in the Roman Empire. But he was also a ruthless tyrant, who committed many atrocities. Herod's legacy is a reminder that even the most powerful and successful rulers can be capable of great evil.

Additional Information

* Herod the Great was a contemporary of Jesus Christ. * Herod's reign is described in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. * Herod's tomb was discovered in 2007 in the Herodion palace complex.