Life of Herod
by Josephus
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The dramatic story of an enlightened, civilised benefactor and murderous tyrant. The Life of Herod is a gripping historical account composed with knowledge and involvement by Josephus, the Jewish Historian and apologist of the 1st century AD, from whose Jewish antiquities' the crises and triumphs of Herod's career are vividly recounted inthis translation. It provides an extroadinary insight into the political machinations and emotional turmoil of a despot whose grandiose aims were achieved show more at expense of personal happiness. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Many of the ancient historians are absolute musts. I wasn't much interested in a Roman-Jew's account of Romanised Judea, but I found it in a 2nd hand shop, a fabulous folio edition in pristine condition so of course I made love to it on the bookshop floor and then ran home screaming joy.
The reward was unexpected.
If you've seen "I, Claudius" (BBC) or read the book (Robert Graves), then there's your comparison; Life of Herod reads like 'I, Herod' in that it too is a culminating tangle of Sopranos-like family intrigues.
"Friends, I'm hitting the road but if anything happens to me, don't forget to put my beloved wife and mother in law to the sword. Oh and don't tell me wife I left you these instructions, she'll be really mad..."
There's show more nothing much about battles, details wise, but enough about Mark Antony, Cleopatra (who comes on to Herod at one point, probably because he had an appendage and a pulse. And power). Also Agrippa, the Caesars and of course, all kinds of zealots at cross purposes. Ancient history is old school fun. show less
The reward was unexpected.
If you've seen "I, Claudius" (BBC) or read the book (Robert Graves), then there's your comparison; Life of Herod reads like 'I, Herod' in that it too is a culminating tangle of Sopranos-like family intrigues.
"Friends, I'm hitting the road but if anything happens to me, don't forget to put my beloved wife and mother in law to the sword. Oh and don't tell me wife I left you these instructions, she'll be really mad..."
There's show more nothing much about battles, details wise, but enough about Mark Antony, Cleopatra (who comes on to Herod at one point, probably because he had an appendage and a pulse. And power). Also Agrippa, the Caesars and of course, all kinds of zealots at cross purposes. Ancient history is old school fun. show less
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Folio Archives 320: Life of Herod by Josephus 2007 in Folio Society Devotees (May 2023)
Author Information
454+ Works 13,704 Members
A member of a wealthy priestly family in Judea, Josephus was a Pharisee originally named Joseph ben Matthias. An active supporter of anti-Roman activity, he became governor of Galilee, a post he held with honor and valor until Galilee was taken by the Romans in a.d. 67. He won the favor of the Roman general Vespasian, whose name---Flavius---he show more took as his own and through whose patronage he later became a Roman citizen. Although often criticized for becoming a supporter of Rome, in his work Against Apion he passionately defends Jewish religion and culture. Josephus wrote both in Greek and in Hebrew. His writings are neither remarkably fine representatives of classical culture nor the product of deep learning in Jewish literature and history. They do, however, tell the reader a great deal not known from other sources. The Jewish War (75--79), based to a great extent on what Josephus himself saw, heard, and experienced, describes the tragic events of the Jewish revolt against Rome. Antiquities of the Jews (93) covers the history of the Jews from creation to the war with Rome, with special attention given to the Maccabees and the dynasty of Herod. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Herod the Great
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- Reviews
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- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
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