V.—­The Herodian Era

In order to secure his position, Herod made an obscure priest from Babylon, named Ananelus, high-priest in place of Hyrcanus.  This offended Alexandra, daughter of Hyrcanus and wife of Alexander, son of Aristobulus the king.  She had ten children, among whom were Mariamne, the beautiful wife of Herod, and Aristobulus.  She sent an appeal to Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, in order by her intercession to gain from Antony the high-priesthood for this son.  At the instance of Antony, Herod took the office from Ananelus, and gave it to Aristobulus, but took care that the youth should soon be murdered.  Then, from causeless jealousy, he put to death his uncle Joseph and threw Mariamne into prison.  Victory in a war with Arabia enhanced his power.  Cruelly slaying Hyrcanus, he hasted away to Octavian, who had beaten Antony at Actium, and obtained also from him, the new Caesar, Augustus, the kingdom, thus being confirmed in his position.

Women of the palace who hated Mariamne for her beauty, her high birth, and her pride, falsely accused her to Herod of gross unfaithfulness.  He loved her passionately, but, giving ear to these traducers, ordered her to be tried.  She was condemned to death, and showed great fortitude as she went to the place of execution, even though her own mother, Alexandra, in order to make herself safe from the wrath of the king, basely, and publicly, and violently upbraided her, while the people, pitying her, mourned at her fate.  Herod was also attacked by a tormenting distemper.  He ordered the execution of Alexandra and of several of his most intimate friends.

By his persistent introduction of foreign customs, which corrupted the constitution of the country, Herod incurred the deep hatred of very many eminent citizens.  He erected servile trophies to Caesar, and prepared costly games in which men were condemned to fight with wild beasts.  Ten men who conspired against him were betrayed, and were tortured horribly, and then slain.  But the people seized the spy who had informed against them, tore him limb from limb, and flung the body in pieces to the dogs.  By constant and relentless severity Herod still strengthened his rule.

But now fearful disturbances arose in his family.  His sister Salome and his brother Pheroras displayed virulent hatred against Alexander and Aristobulus, sons of the murdered Mariamne, and, on their part, the two young men were incensed at the partiality shown by Herod to his eldest son, Antipater.  This prince was continually using cunning strategy against his brethren, while feigning affection for them.  He so worked on the mind of the king by false accusations against Alexander that many of the friends of this youth were tortured to death in the attempts made to force disclosures from them.