the second son of Antipater of Idumæa, was made governor of Galilee at an early age, and effectively repressed the depredations of the bands of robbers by which the country was infested. Tried for executing Jewish citizens without legal trial, he confronted the Sanhedrim with an armed retinue, himself clothed in purple. He was made governor of Coele-Syria by Sex, Caesar, in which he was fully confirmed by Cassius. Felix and Antigonus attempted to drive him from power, but they were defeated, b.c. 41; Antony arrived in Syria, and Herod obtained his favour by costly presents. Favoured also by the venerable Hyrcanus, Herod, and Phasael his brother, seemed established in power. Next year, however, Pacorus the Parthian, favouring the pretensions of Antigonus to the throne of Judea, and encouraged by the discontent on account of the Roman exactions, led an army against Herod and Phasael. Herod escaped, and being refused assistance from the king of Arabia, he hastened to Alexandria, whence he embarked for Rome. Here, through his influence with Antony, he was made king of Judæa, and set out under Roman auspices to wage war against Antigonus, his rival to the Jewish throne. After three years of vigorous warfare he regained possession of Jerusalem, b.c. 37. Summary executions were now the readiest means of getting possession of great wealth, and with this wealth he kept on good terms with Antony. So great was his power with the Romans that he made head against all the influence of Cleopatra, who cast a longing eye on Judæa, and who had used her influence with Antony to get that kingdom annexed to Egypt. Such was his address that, after the power of Antony was wrecked at Actium, Herod boldly went to Rhodes to meet Augustus, and expatiated upon the steadfastness of his attachment to Antony. The scheme succeeded. Augustus established him on the throne of Judæa, and annexed several other places to his kingdom. He thus reached the summit of power in spite of busy enemies and deeply-seated unpopularity. His rival, Antigonus, as a representative of the Asmonæan line, had been the favourite of the people. When he regained possession of Jerusalem, he had executed almost every member of the Sanhedrim, besides others of distinction. Having put Antigonus to death, the high priesthood devolved upon Aristobulus, his wife Mariamne's brother, but he gave it to Ananel. Finding it politic, however, to reinstate Aristobulus, and then becoming jealous of his popularity, he had him secretly assassinated. Fearing he might fall by the snares of his enemies when he went to meet Augustus at Rhodes, he left orders that, in that case, Mariamne should be put to death. He had done the same on a former occasion, when he went to meet Antony, and in both cases the fact was divulged to Mariamne. At the instigation of his mother and sister, Mariamne was tried for adultery, and executed by his order. Notwithstanding the barbarous conduct which he thus exhibited, it was the strange fate of this monster to be passionately attached to Mariamne. The consequence was that after her death he became sullen, ferocious, and a greater terror to all near him than he had ever been before. Remorse acting on such a character brought on something like insanity, and a violent fever seemed as if the world were soon to be rid of him. Herod's Lament for Mariamne forms the subject of one of Byron's Hebrew Melodies. Upon his recovery, Alexandra, Mariamne's mother, and several others, were put to death.

Secure in the favour of Augustus and Agrippa, Herod did many things to render himself still more odious to the Jews. He rebuilt Samaria and called it Sebastae, in honour of Augustus. He built a seaport, to which he gave the name of Cassarea. He built a theatre in Jerusalem itself; and an amphitheatre beyond the walls, in which Roman shows of gladiators and wild animals took place. After an attempt made to assassinate him, he fortified Jerusalem, so as to render himself secure against popular outbreaks. Amongst the strongholds thus erected were Antonia and Hyrcania, the latter being used as a prison. Notwithstanding his generally oppressive government he made some attempts to ingratiate himself with the people. During a famine he distributed immense quantities of corn throughout the whole country, and more especially he undertook to rebuild with great splendour the temple at Jerusalem.

The closing years of Herod's life present a dark history of family discords, intrigues, jealousies, poisonings, and assassinations. He had two wives, of whom the most celebrated was Mariamne. Two of her sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, after having been educated at Rome, returned to Jerusalem, where they were in high favour both with their father Herod and the populace. However, Antipater, another son of Herod, by Doris, planned their ruin, and, after several unsuccessful accusations of conspiracy, the two sons of Mariamne were executed. Antipater himself engaged in a conspiracy, which being detected he was executed. Very shortly before the close of his life Herod ordered the massacre of the infants at Bethlehem. He was carried off by an exacerbating internal malady in the 70th year of his age, after having been king of Judaea for nearly 40 years.

Herod, Agrippa. See Agrippa.

Herod, Antipas. See Antipas.