KING HEROD: A PERSECUTED PERSECUTOR
A CASE STUDY IN PSYCHOHISTORY AND PSYCHOBIOGRAPHY
BY ARYEH KASHER
IN COLLABORATION WITH ELIEZER WITZTUM
TRANSLATED BY KAREN GOLD
WALTER DE GRUYTER • BERLIN • NEW YORK Table of Contents
Foreword xi Preface xvii Acknowledgements xix
Introduction Methodology 1 Psychopathological Aspects of Herod 12
Chapter 1 Residues of Childhood in the Late Hasmonaean Period (73/72-63 BCE) Herod's Origins and Their Impact on His Personality 18 Political Ambitions since Childhood 24
Chapter 2 Adolescence in the Shadow of the Roman Conquest (63-42 BCE) Consolidation of Power in the House of Antipater 34 Appointment as Strategos of Galilee, and Trial before San- hedrin (47-46 BCE) 39 Political Acrobatics Following the Murder of Julius Caesar 45 Betrothal to Mariamme the Hasmonaean (42 BCE) 51
Chapter 3 From the Utmost Depths to the Conquest of Jerusalem (41-37 BCE) In the Shadow of the Parthian Invasion 57 The Rift between Herod and the Nabateans 64 Herod is Crowned in Rome as King of Judaea 65 The War against Mattathias Antigonus 72 vi Table of Contents Chapter 4 Herod in the First Year of His Reign (37 BCE) Conquest of Jerusalem 84 Execution of Mattathias Antigonus 86 Marriage to Mariamme the Hasmonaean 92 New Arrangements in Conquered Jerusalem 99
Chapter 5 Roots and Ramifications of the Hasmonaean Trauma (37-34 BCE) The Problem of John Hyrcanus II 101 The Murder of Aristobulus III 104 Alexandra and Cleopatra's Influence on Antony Regarding the Laodicea Meeting 113 Construction of Masada as a Palace-Fortress 116 The First Rift with Mariamme the Hasmonaean 118
Chapter 6 Cleopatra VII's Influence on Relations between Herod and Antony (34-31 BCE) Antony's Declarations 126 Construction of the Antonia Fortress in Jerusalem 128 Groundless Fears after Meeting at Laodicea, and the Start of the Costobarus Affair 131 Desertion from Antony's Camp Under Cover of the First War against the Nabataeans 135
Chapter 7 Elimination of Herod's Hasmonaean Family Members (30-2$ BCE) Execution of John Hyrcanus II 155 The Growing Hasmonaean Trauma 158 The Meeting with Octavian at Rhodes 160 The Trial and Execution of Mariamme the Hasmonaean . . 163 Elimination of Alexandra the Hasmonaean 174 Marriage to Malthace the Samaritan 175 Appointment of Simon Son of Boethus as High Priest, and Herod's Marriage to his Daughter, Mariamme 176 Table of Contents vii
Chapter 8 Construction and Prosperity in the Shadow of Oppression (27-10 BCE) Beginning of Construction at the Herodium 181 Construction of Stadiums and Theaters in Jerusalem and Jericho 184 Mocking of Jewish Values and Brutal Suppression of Op- ponents 187 Conclusion of the Costobarus Affair 190 Construction of Herod's Palace in Jerusalem and Its Famous Towers 192 The Construction of Sebaste 194 The Building of Caesarea Maritima 196 Intimidation by Secret Police and Foreign Mercenaries.... 208
Chapter 9 Herod's Address in Preparation for the Building of the Holy Temple (23/22 BCE) Tension in Jerusalem upon Hearing of the Plan to Build the Temple 213 Speech at the Great Jerusalem People's Assembly Leading Up to Construction of the Temple 215 Euphoria of Construction: A Form of Herodian "Messian- ism"? 218
Chapter 10 Hidden Motivations for Building the Holy Temple: "Rivalry" with the Hasmonaeans and a Desire to Flaunt His Grandeur What Was Herod's True Incentive for Building the Temple? 225 Dedication of the Temple 239 Offering in Honor of the Emperor 243
Chapter 11 Return to Daily Reality amid New Tensions (18-14 BCE) From the Euphoria of Building to an Ongoing Persecution Complex 244 Law against Thieves 245 Return of Herod's Sons from Rome 246 viii Table of Contents Visit of Marcus Agrippa to Judaea (15 BCE) 248 Herod's Aid to the Jews of Ionia, Asia Minor, and Cyrene (14 BCE) 251 Negative Impact of Salome and Pheroras on Herod 254
Chapter 12 A Turn for the Worse at Home and Continued Activity Abroad (14-10 BCE) Antipater Deepens the Rift between Herod and his Hasmo- naean Sons 259 Completion of Construction in Caesarea and the Dedica- tion of the City 272 Contributions to Hellenist Cities throughout the Empire . . 276
Chapter 13 Further Deterioration in Herod's Mental State and Worsening Relations with his Hasmonaean Sons (10-9 BCE) Looting of King David's Tomb 281 Rivalry between Antipater, His Hasmonaean Brothers, Salome, and Pheroras 285 Involvement of Salome and Pheroras in the Conflict between Herod and His Hasmonaean Sons 289 The "Syllaeus Affair" 295 Suspicions of Contempt toward Herod by His Son Alexan- der: The Three Eunuchs Affair 301
Chapter 14 A Downward Spiral at Home and Abroad (9-7 BCE) The Ring of Suspicion Tightens 305 Alexander's Fateful Blunder 310 Archelaus King of Cappadocia Comes to the Aid of Alexan- der 315 Herod's Second War against the Nabateans 320
Chapter IS Lead-Up to the Great Explosion (8-7 BCE) The Eurycles Affair 325 Torture of the Bodyguards Jucundus and Tyrannus 331 Table of Contents IX Second Reconciliation Attempt of Archelaus King of Cap- padocia 336
Chapter 16 The Tragic End of Alexander and Aristobulus (7 BCE) Trial of the Hasmonaean Sons 340 Reactions of the Public and the Army to the Verdict against Herod's Sons 345 Execution of Alexander and Aristobulus 348 Josephus' Summary of Herod's Character 349
Chapter 17 Antipater's Subversion in the Royal Court of Jerusalem (7-5 BCE) Increasing Influence of Antipater over Herod 353 Machinations of the Women of the Court, Led by Salome and the Wife of Pheroras 358 Appointment of Antipater as Successor, and Dawning of Suspicions against Him 363 Increasing Deterioration in Herod's Mental State 366
Chapter 18 The Bitter Fate of Antipater Antipater's Trial (5 BCE) 372
Chapter 19 Descent into Oblivion (4 BCE) Severe Decline in Herod's Mental and Physical State 384 Killing of Judas Son of Sepphoraeus and Matthias Son of Margalus, Who Cut Down the Golden Eagle from the Tem- ple Gate, 386 Herod's Final Illness 391 Herod's Final Attack of Madness 394
Chapter 20 Post-Mortem Josephus' Final Assessment of Herod's Character 405 Herod's Funeral 406
Afterword 410 X Table of Contents
Appendix Herod's Relations with His Immediate Family 424 Milestones in Herod's Life 425 Concluding Remarks on Herod's Mental State 430 Chronological Table 435 Maps 448 Bibliography and Abbreviations 455 Index of Names 503 Geographical Index 510