Herod’s Buildings and Achievements
Herod and the Jews
Herod had high hopes for Hellenization among his Jewish subjects. Of course,
Herod considered himself a Jew. Herod knew better than to force Hellenization
upon his Jewish subjects.
Gradually he tried introducing them to those Greek habits of life which he
himself admired. Jerusalem also benefited from his building activity. He erected
a theater and a hippodrome within the city.
Foreign visitors to his capital would feel more at home and would not look down
upon him as an insignificant king of a "barbarian" people.
Herod - The Builder
According to the Greek standards of that day, a good king encouraged games
and theaters and was active in building. King Herod was considered one of the
greatest builders of the ancient world.
He constructed pagan temples and amphitheaters in various Greek cities within
and outside his domain. Athens, Sparta and Rhodes benefited from his liberality
and he made large contributions of money to the Olympic games.
Rome was very interested in King Herod's ability to bring peace to the
territories on his northeastern frontier and Augustus granted these
territories to Herod's kingdom: Trachonitis, Batanea, and Auranitis in 23 B.C.
and the territory of Ituraea in 20 B.C.
To make Augustus even more grateful and to further the emperor's cultural
policy, Herod invested in vast building enterprises. Many old cities were
refounded and new cities were built.
Temples, hippodromes and amphitheaters were constructed, not only in Judea but
in foreign cities such as Athens. Within his own kingdom he rebuilt Samaria and
renamed it Sebaste, after the emperor (Sebastos is the Greek equivalent of the
Latin Augustus).
King Herod also rebuilt Strato's Tower on the beautiful coast of the
Mediterranean and built a large artificial harbor. He called the new city
Caesarea, also in honor of the emperor. This project lasted some twelve years,
from 22 to 10 B.C.
There are many more projects that can be mentioned in these areas and throughout
the land, settlements and strongholds, many of which bore names honoring the
emperor or members of Herod's own family, such as Antipatris (on the road from
Jerusalem to Caesarea), Cypros (at Jericho), and Phasaelis (west of the Jordan).
At Jerusalem he built a royal palace for himself connecting the Western Wall. He
rebuilt the Hasmonean fortress of Baris and renamed it Antonia (after Marc
Antony).
But the greatest of all of King Herod's building enterprises was his
reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This massive project was begun early
in 19 B.C.
One thousand Levites were trained as builders, and they fulfilled their work in
such a way that the sacred rituals of the holy place were never interrupted
while the work was happening.
The tremendous outer court was enclosed, surrounded by colonnades, and the whole
area was splendid and beautiful with awesome gateways and other architectural
marvel s. The Temple became world renowned for its magnificence:
"Far off appearing like a Mount of alabaster, topped with golden spires."
Although the majority of the work of reconstruction was completed in the first few years and while Herod
was still alive, the final details were not completed until 63 A.D., only seven
years before its destruction.
The Jews appreciated much of Herod's buildings and achievements but would never
forgive him for his destruction of the Hasmonean family, they would also not forget
his Edomite ancestry. No matter how generous he was, and how much money he spent on the Temple and other
projects, he could never win the favor of his Jewish subjects.
Augustus Caesar and Herod's friend Agrippa said:
"Herod's realm was far too
small for his liberality."
Rome herself as well as Herod's Gentile subjects were happy that he liked to please them. To them
Herod was "Herod the Great."
Other achievements are worth mentioning, especially in the area of culture.
History was being recorded: King Herod's court chronicler, Nicolas of Damascus,
wrote a Universal History in 144 books. This work included a detailed record of
Herod's reign, which Josephus used as a principal source for this part of
Herod's history in his writings.