Believer In Yeshua
Coins of Herod The Great
Herod the Great was born 73 or 74BCE and died in Jericho in 4BCE – although one writer places his death in 1BCE. Herod was officially a practicing Jew as many Edomites and Nabateans, from the are Herod was born in, had been forcibly converted to Judaism under the Hasmoneans. The fact that his family had been so converted and the Herodians decadent lifestyle resulted in his religious commitment being called into question by some in Jewish society. [A similar thing happened under the Hasmoneans in Galilee (“of the nations”), which is why Yeshua’s legitimacy was often questioned ~ hence the concentration on His genealogy.]
Herod became a Roman client king of Judea after first being named Tetrarch of Galilee by the Romans. Two years later Antiogonus forcibly took the throne and Herod fled to Rome where he was elected “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. His coming to power is dated as 40BCE or 39BCE depending on the authority you read.
The above coins follow on naturally from our discussion about the “Star of Bethlehem Coin” as the military helmet with its cheek pieces is surmounted by a star. The helmet is has two plam branches above it. This star has o relation to the Biblical account of Yeshua’s birth but is an interesting observation. On the reverse of the coin is a depiction of what seems to be a tripod altar with a flame. The wording says, “of King Herod”.
Some will have noticed the tau/rho symbol on both these coins. This again has no relevance to the Christian faith. Instead it is probably a contraction for “trito” or third year. This indicates the coins were struck in the third year of Herod’s reign.
Herod was famed for his cruelty and had a number of his family executed. When he had his son Antipator put to death Augustus is reported as saying, “Melius est Herodius porcum esse quam filium!” or “It is better to be one of Herod’s swine than his son!” (Macrbius,”Saturnalia”)
Coins of Herod The Great
Herod the Great was born 73 or 74BCE and died in Jericho in 4BCE – although one writer places his death in 1BCE. Herod was officially a practicing Jew as many Edomites and Nabateans, from the are Herod was born in, had been forcibly converted to Judaism under the Hasmoneans. The fact that his family had been so converted and the Herodians decadent lifestyle resulted in his religious commitment being called into question by some in Jewish society. [A similar thing happened under the Hasmoneans in Galilee (“of the nations”), which is why Yeshua’s legitimacy was often questioned ~ hence the concentration on His genealogy.]
Herod became a Roman client king of Judea after first being named Tetrarch of Galilee by the Romans. Two years later Antiogonus forcibly took the throne and Herod fled to Rome where he was elected “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. His coming to power is dated as 40BCE or 39BCE depending on the authority you read.
The above coins follow on naturally from our discussion about the “Star of Bethlehem Coin” as the military helmet with its cheek pieces is surmounted by a star. The helmet is has two plam branches above it. This star has o relation to the Biblical account of Yeshua’s birth but is an interesting observation. On the reverse of the coin is a depiction of what seems to be a tripod altar with a flame. The wording says, “of King Herod”.
Some will have noticed the tau/rho symbol on both these coins. This again has no relevance to the Christian faith. Instead it is probably a contraction for “trito” or third year. This indicates the coins were struck in the third year of Herod’s reign.
Herod was famed for his cruelty and had a number of his family executed. When he had his son Antipator put to death Augustus is reported as saying, “Melius est Herodius porcum esse quam filium!” or “It is better to be one of Herod’s swine than his son!” (Macrbius,”Saturnalia”)