HEROD, called THE GREAT, king of the Jews: b. about 62 ac.; d. 4 B.C. He reigned from 37 ac. until his death. He was the second son of Antipater the Idumean, who, being made procurator of Judea by Julius Cesar, appointed him to the government of Galilee. He as first embraced the party of Brutus and Cassius, but after their death rec onciled himself to Antony, by whose interest he was first named tetrarch and afterward king of Judea. After the battle of Actium Augustus confirmed him in his kingdom. As a politician and commander, his abilities were conspicuous. He rebuilt the temple at Jerusalem with great magnificence and erected a stately theatre and amphitheatre in that city, in which he celebrated games in honor of Augustus, to the great dis pleasure of the more zealous of the Jews. He also rebuilt Samaria, which he called Sebaste, and adorned it with very sumptuous edifices.
He likewise, for his security, constructed many strong fortresses throughout Judea, the princi pal of which he termed Cmsarea, after the emperor. On his palace, near the temple of Jerusalem, he lavished the most costly materials, and his residence of Herodium, at some dis tance from the capital, by the beauty of its situ ation drew around it the population of a great city. Such, indeed, was his magnificence that Augustus said his soul was too great for his kingdom. Herod was the first who shook the foundation of the Jewish government, by dis solving the national council, and appointing the high-priests, and removing them at pleasure, without regard to the laws of succession. His policy, ability and influence with Augustus, however, gave a great temporary splendor to the Jewish nation.