King Herod is considered one of the biggest villains in history, best remembered for a fabled, biblical slaughter. But this infamous legacy has overshadowed the rest of Herod’s extraordinary story. Born in the early 1st century BC, Herod fought his way to prominence during a time of great turmoil. As the ancient superpower that was Rome extended its control to the Levant.

So who was the real King Herod? And how did he rise to become king of Judea 2,000 years ago, when Jesus of Nazareth was born.

Leading historians of the ancient Near East, Professor Helen Bond, Dr Benedikt Eckhardt and Dr Kimberley Czajkowski, take centre stage in this documentary that brings to life the enthralling story of young Herod and how his family overthrew the old order in Judea. It’s a tale filled with battles, conspiracies and murder, featuring well known names such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Narrated by Tristan Hughes.

Further reading:

- Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XIV. Available online at https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/ant-14.html

- Herod in History: Nicolaus of Damascus and the Augustan Context, 2021, written by Dr Kimberley Czajkowski and Dr Benedikt Eckhardt. https://academic.oup.com/book/39781

- The Herods: Murder, Politics and the Art of Succession, 2021, written by Bruce Chilton. https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506474281/The-Herods

Further listening:

- Listen to Helen Bond’s podcast, Biblical Time Machine, which explores the real history of the people, places and events of the Old Testament, New Testament and everything in between: https://www.biblicaltimemachine.com/

- ‘All About Our Pal Josephus’, an episode from Biblical Time Machine featuring Dr Kimberley Czajkowski and Professor Helen Bond, aired 5 June 2023: https://www.biblicaltimemachine.com/listen-to-episodes/blog-post-title-four-zg432-fKpuX-z4y2p-3xhax-t9jst-gbrxn-czyps-4mch6