Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant

In fact it sound more like a summary of Josephus's writings than anything else as it highly detailed the political drama of Imperial Rome while only glancing as the social environment that had major agricultural advancements at the time. Apr 17, Andy rated it really liked it. Want to discover the culture and context of the New Testament? A book like this will increase your understanding exponentially.

It's still a seminary-textbook kind of read. I read it at the gym while working out. Much harder to fall asleep when you're moving.

Feb 18, Erin added it Shelves: It was a very interesting book, with a lot of history. I liked how Gelb provided a lot of context, showing how Judea and its leaders interacted with the Roman Empire if which it was apart. I was amazed and not in a good way by how strenuously and frequently Gelb tried to excuse Herod's many crimes because of the public works Herod had built and the "peace and prosperity" Herod brought to Jerusalem. Judea was a brutal police state under Herod.

Being in Herod's chain of command was deadlier than It was a very interesting book, with a lot of history. Being in Herod's chain of command was deadlier than being in Darth Vader's! Herod had people tortured and killed, including family members and long-trusted friends, simply for saying the wrong thing or merely suspected of thinking or feeling the wrong things. He also plotted the massacre not carried out, thankfully, of important citizens of Jerusalem to coincide with his death so his subjects would mourn instead of cheer when they learned of it.

No amount of road building makes up for that. But so was Hitler.

Gelb represents the very frightening political persuasion that any means justify the ends of political stability and relative safety and prosperity. Apr 30, Karen! It is evident that this was well researched. I enjoyed the author's pacing and style.

Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant: Norman Gelb: www.newyorkethnicfood.com: Books

The events that shaped Herod's life and reign are so inexorably linked to Julius Caesar and the power struggles that occur afterwards that some reminder of these events is warranted. What I appreciate about Gelg is that he goes into enough detail to remind and expand on the relevant aspects in relation to Herod's story without being patronizing.

Of course we all know who Caesar is.

Of course we all know who Mar It is evident that this was well researched. Of course we all know who Marc Antony is Of course, I picked this book up hoping to gain insight into the monarch that slaughtered every child within reach under the age of two when confronted with the prospect of a rival.

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Early on, I could see how this would be possible for the barbaric ruler, as he was a bit crazy--hereditary from his father and later passed to his sons--but I was unaware that this portion of the biblical infancy narrative holds no historical weight. Better luck next time. Oct 09, Sarah rated it really liked it.

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I really enjoyed this book. It tells a lot about a leader who generally just gets a he was a horrible person and then move on. I think the what politics were like in the Roman world gets overlooked a lot when looking at Herod. Essays on Aristotle's Ethics and Metaphysics. Aristotle's Theory of Material Substance: Heat and Pneuma, Form and Soul. Nothing is as It Seems: The Tragedy of the Implicit in Euripides' Hippolytus. Lanham, Boulder, New York, and Oxford: Studies of Culture and Environment on the European Fringe.

Shiel - - The Classical Review 50 ISBN , pp. Poet and Audience in the Argonautica of Apollonius. Lanham, Boulder, New York, and London: Belted Heroes and Bound Women. The Myth of the Homeric Warrior-King. He offers an in-depth analysis of one of those kings, Herod the Great, appointed king of Judea by the Romans in 37 BCE, holding the office for more than 30 years until he died. Most of what we know about Herod is from the historian Josephus, who was born forty years after Herod died. Josephus and other ancient chroniclers depicted Herod as cold, calculating, cruel, and brutal.

He mistrusted most of his ten wives and sons, executing at least one of the wives and a number of the sons, fearing that they were trying to replace him.

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He held onto power through political schemes and assassinations, not unlike the rest of the Roman elite. He was such a divisive figure that an unbiased and straightforward biography is difficult to achieve—whether Herod was as bad as his historical reputation indicates has been debated for centuries. Exploring the Origins of the Jewish Nation subtitle summarizes his take on Herod: While the book is by no means an apology for Herod, Gelb tends to favor arguments that show Herod in a more positive light.

The author does not rigorously question the early sources. VERDICT This is an excellent choice for nonspecialists who want a straightforward biography of Herod, particularly those who are interested in Roman or biblical history. Booklist This book is more than a biography of Herod; it tells the history of the Greco-Roman world in classical antiquity and the emergence of early Christianity.

Gelb attempts at presenting a balanced picture of Herod, who is known largely for his cruelty he killed members of his own family! The book will be enjoyed by anyone who likes to read about classical antiquity. Herod the Great is especially recommended for anyone traveling to Israel because a vast majority of the ancient tourist sites that you visit where originally constructed by Herod—Tower of David Citadel, Masada, Caesarea, etc.

Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews This book accurately portrays the turbulent life and times of King Herod the Great in a highly readable and engaging manner. Fast-paced and clearly written, it will appeal to a broad audience. Would you like to tell us about a lower price?

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If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support? Herod the Great, king of ancient Judea, was a brutal, ruthless, vindictive and dangerously high-strung tyrant. He had many of his subjects killed on suspicion of plotting against him and was accused of slaughtering children in Bethlehem when informed that a new king of the Jews had been born there. Among the victims of the murderous paranoia that ultimately drove him to the brink of insanity were his three oldest sons and the wife he loved most.

Norman Gelb explores how Herod transformed his formerly strive-ridden kingdom into a modernizing, economically thriving, orderly state of international significance and repute within the sprawling Roman Empire. As this account shows, despite his horrific failings and ultimate mental unbalance, Herod was a fascinatingly complex, dynamic, and largely constructive statesman, a figure of great public accomplishment and one of the most underrated personalities of ancient times.

History buffs and those interested in popular ancient history can are introduced to this ruthless tyrant and his victims. Read more Read less. Add all three to Cart Add all three to List. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. Buy the selected items together This item: Ships from and sold by Friends of the San Rafael Library. Ships from and sold by bargainbookstores-. Ships from and sold by Amazon.

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