Herod I, or Herod the Great (c. 75 – 4 BCE), was the king of Judea who ruled as a client of Rome. He has gained lasting infamy as the 'slaughterer of the innocents' as recounted in the New Testament's book of Mathew. Herod was, though, a gifted administrator, and in his 33-year reign, he was responsible for many major building works which included a rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, several aqueducts, and the massive fortress known as the Herodium. Historians have re-assessed his long-held negative reputation and now credit his reign as having had at least some positive effects on Jews and Judaism in his kingdom.
More about: Herod the Great2 days left
Server Costs Fundraiser 2024
Help our mission to provide free history education to the world! Please donate and contribute to covering our server costs in 2024. With your support, millions of people learn about history entirely for free every month.
$14936 / $18000
Definition
Timeline
-
37 BCE - 4 BCEReign of Herod the Great over Judea.
-
37 BCEHerod the Great is made governor of Galilee.
-
37 BCEHerod the Great retakes Jerusalem from the Parthians.
-
29 BCEHerod the Great executes his wife Mariamme on grounds of being unfaithful.
-
23 BCE - 20 BCEHerod the Great conquers areas north of Galilee.
-
c. 15 BCEHerod the Great completes construction of his massive fortress and future mausoleum the Herodium.
-
9 BCEHerod the Great wages war against Nabataea.
-
c. 6 BCE - c. 30 CELife of Jesus Christ.
-
4 BCEHerod the Great, suspicious of rival factions, executes his son Antipater.