Herodian Dynasty: Origins, Role in Society and Eclipse

The remarkable Herodian dynasty flourished from the second century BCE to the second century CE. This book examines its origins, measures its impact on Jewish society and discusses the influence it had beyond Judea. It argues that the Herodian dynasty played a central part in the workings of the Eastern Roman Empire. The author suggests that Herod the Great would be better described as a Hellenized Phoenician rather than simply as an Idumaean and draws on a variety of evidence to...
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The remarkable Herodian dynasty flourished from the second century BCE to the second century CE. This book examines its origins, measures its impact on Jewish society and discusses the influence it had beyond Judea. It argues that the Herodian dynasty played a central part in the workings of the Eastern Roman Empire. The author suggests that Herod the Great would be better described as a Hellenized Phoenician rather than simply as an Idumaean and draws on a variety of evidence to support this view. The Herodian dynasty is seen in the context of the political structure of the province of Judea and life in Graeco-Roman Palestine as a whole. Kokkinos's perspective on the Herodian dynasty within the political structure of Judaea and of life in Graeco-Roman Palestine as a whole offers to the scholar and student of Second-Temple Judaism and early Christianity a challenging new angle of vision.