Herod: The Builder King

Caesarea....
A trading city with an artificially-made harbor built out over powerful currents and winds that battered ships along the unforgiving coast of Judea.

Masada........
A massive, mountain-top fortress and royal residence rising above the Judean desert.

Herodium.......
The name-sake palace fortress of an embattled king determined to lead his country and people.

Jerusalem.....
Capital city of Judea and the seat of power of Judaism. The splendid temple is among the greatest accomplishments of a powerful builder-king.

These sites are just a part of the grand legacy of one man....Herod the Great; King of Judea for 33 years- from 37 to 4 BCE."

And so begins the narrative of a _ hour video on the life and times of Herod the Great, builder-king of Judea, who ushered in a new age for Judaism and lay the groundwork for the generation that saw the development of Christianity. King Herod was an enigmatic ruler, "with larceny in his heart and blue-prints in his veins". Although a true visionary for the Judean people with regard to their place in the Greater Roman Empire, Herod failed miserably at mastering even the most essential aspects of internal understanding of their hopes and dreams.

Explore the world of the First Century BCE through the geography, history and archaeology of ancient Israel. This wonderful video is available through ERI for rental or purchase.