The Herods of the Bible

Herod the Great (72 BC - 1 BC)

Historians, specifically Josephus, believe him to have married 10 times, 8 of which we have the names (War of the Jews, Antiquities of the Jews). With at least 14 children (9 boys, 5 girls).

His rulership seemed to extend from 34 BCE until his death just after the birth of Jesus. The particular year of his death is debated to be somewhere between 4 BC and AD 1. Likewise the birth of Jesus is also debated to be during that same range.

Herod was a leader of architecture creating both Caesarea Maritima in the Northwest of the Palestine region and also the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Secular records indicate he steeply declined in his last years of his reign both mentally and physically. Some records indicate he may have died of advanced kidney failure which was sometimes referred to as "dying of worms" coined from the outward appearance of the testicles and severe debilitating pain in the abdomen. Untreated kidney failure and the pain associated with it often results in insanity.

The List of Wives

Doris

Mariamne I

Mariamne II

Malthace

Cleopatra of Jerusalem

Pallas

Phaidra

Elpis

(an unknown cousin)

(an unknown niece)

List of Sons https://www.rbcteach.net/theherods

Antipater II

Alexander

Aristobulus IV

Herod II (Herod Philip I)

Herod Archelaus

Herod Antipas

Philip the Tetrarch

Herod

Phasael

List of Daughters

Salampsio

Cypros

Olympias

Roxanne

Salome