Herod I [ 2 ] [ a ] or Herod the Great c. Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] βthe Western Wall being part of it.
Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE RomanβJewish historian Josephus.
Despite Herod's successes, including single-handedly forging a new aristocracy from practically nothing, [ 10 ] 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 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.
Herod's father was by descent an Edomite; his ancestors had been forcibly converted to Judaism. Herod was raised as a Jew. Herod rose to power largely through his father's good relations with the Roman general and dictator Julius Caesar , who entrusted Antipater with the public affairs of Judea. During this time the young Herod cultivated a good relationship with Sextus Caesar , the acting Roman governor of Syria, who appointed Herod as general of Coelesyria and Samaria , greatly expanding his sphere of influence.
They were placed in this role to support Hyrcanus II. The Romans had a special interest in Judea because their general Pompey the Great had conquered Jerusalem in 63 BCE , thus placing the region in the Roman sphere of influence.
