Which Herod was eaten by worms? This intriguing question brings to mind a tragic end for one of the most notorious figures in Jewish history. King Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great, met a bizarre and macabre demise that has been the subject of much speculation and debate over the centuries.
Herod Antipas, also known as Herod Antipater, was a tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a region in the eastern part of the Roman province of Judea. Born in 20 BCE, he was the son of Herod the Great and his wife, Malthace. After the death of his father, Herod Antipas was appointed tetrarch by the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Despite his royal lineage, his rule was fraught with controversy and intrigue.
Herod Antipas’s reign was marked by several scandalous events, including his marriage to his half-sister Herodias, which was widely condemned by the Jewish religious authorities. This union, which was considered incestuous, led to a series of conflicts and power struggles within the Jewish community. One of the most infamous incidents involving Herodias was her role in the death of John the Baptist, a revered prophet and charismatic figure in the region.
According to the New Testament, Herodias’ daughter, Salome, danced for Herod Antipas at a banquet, prompting him to offer her anything she desired. Salome, influenced by her mother, requested the head of John the Baptist. Herod Antipas, despite his initial reluctance, agreed to her demand, leading to the execution of John the Baptist. This act of violence and betrayal further tarnished Herod Antipas’s reputation and caused him to be viewed as a tyrant by many.
As his reign continued, Herod Antipas faced numerous accusations of tyranny and immorality. His rule was characterized by corruption, oppression, and a disregard for the religious and cultural values of the Jewish people. The Roman authorities, aware of his unpopularity, were keen to remove him from power.
In AD 39, the Roman Emperor Caligula ordered Herod Antipas to be exiled to Gaul. However, before he could leave Judea, a rebellion broke out among the Jewish population. Herod Antipas was forced to return to Judea to quell the uprising. During the conflict, he was captured by the Jewish rebels and taken to the fortress of Masada.
According to Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian who lived during the time of Herod Antipas, the rebels, recognizing the former tetrarch’s role in their oppression, decided to execute him. As he awaited his fate, Herod Antipas’s body was subjected to a macabre fate: it was eaten by worms. This bizarre and tragic end to his life has become a symbol of the cruel and oppressive nature of his reign.
The story of which Herod was eaten by worms serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of tyranny and the importance of upholding moral and ethical values. It also highlights the complex political and religious landscape of the Roman Empire during the first century AD. Herod Antipas’s life and death continue to be a subject of fascination and study, as historians and scholars seek to understand the man behind the myth.
