{"id":48886,"date":"2026-01-04T07:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T12:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=48886"},"modified":"2026-01-05T08:49:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T13:49:50","slug":"herod-the-great-herodian-family-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/people-cultures-in-the-bible\/people-in-the-bible\/herod-the-great-herodian-family-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Herod the Great and the Herodian Family Tree"},"content":{"rendered":"

In “New Testament Political Figures Confirmed”<\/a> in the September\/October 2017 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review<\/em>, Purdue University scholar Lawrence Mykytiuk examines the political figures in the New Testament<\/a> who can be identified in the archaeological record and by extra-Biblical writings. Below, see a visualization of the Herodian family tree and key events in the New Testament related to members of the Herodian family.\u2014Ed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Herodian<\/a>

The Herodian family tree and key events in the New Testament related to members of the Herodian family. Click to enlarge.<\/strong> Credit: Biblical Archaeology Society.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Selected Members of the Herodian Family and Roman Governors Who Are Significant in New Testament Events<\/h4>\n

The family tree above includes only the Herodian family members in the New Testament plus most of the Roman governors it mentions. It is not a complete family tree. Boldface<\/strong> in the narrative statements below signifies the person is referred to in the New Testament.<\/p>\n

Earlier Outcomes:<\/strong> Attempt to kill the infant Jesus, execution of John the Baptist, and the trial of Jesus<\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. Herod the Great<\/strong>, founder of the dynasty, tried to kill the infant Jesus by the \u201cslaughter of the innocents\u201d at Bethlehem.<\/li>\n
  2. Herod Philip<\/strong>, uncle and first husband of Herodias<\/strong>, was not a ruler.<\/li>\n
  3. Herodias<\/strong> left Herod Philip<\/strong> to marry his half-brother Herod Antipas<\/strong>, Tetrarch<\/strong> of Galilee & Perea.<\/li>\n
  4. John the Baptist<\/strong> rebuked Antipas<\/strong> for marrying Herodias<\/strong>, his brother\u2019s wife, while his brother was still alive\u2014against the law of Moses.<\/li>\n
  5. Salome<\/strong> danced for Herod Antipas<\/strong> and, at Herodias\u2019s<\/strong> direction, requested the beheading of John the Baptist<\/strong>. Later she married her great-uncle Philip the Tetrarch<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  6. Herod Antipas, Tetrarch<\/strong> of Galilee &: Perea (r. 4 B.C.E.\u201339 C.E.), was Herodias\u2019s<\/strong> uncle and second husband. After Salome\u2019s<\/strong> dance and his rash promise, he executed John the Baptist<\/strong>. Much later he held part of Jesus\u2019 trial.<\/li>\n
  7. Herod Archelaus, Ethnarch<\/strong> of Judea, Samaria and Idumea (r. 4 B.C.E.\u20136 C.E.), was replaced by a series of Roman governors, including Pontius Pilate<\/strong> (r. 26\u201336 C.E.).<\/li>\n
  8. Philip the Tetrarch<\/strong> of northern territories (r. 4 B.C.E.\u201334 C.E.) later married Herodias\u2019s<\/strong> daughter Salome<\/strong>, his grandniece.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n
    Later Outcomes:<\/strong> Execution of James the son of Zebedee, imprisonment of Peter to execute him, and the trial of Paul<\/h5>\n
      \n
    1. King Herod Agrippa I<\/strong> (r. 37\u201344 C.E.) executed James the son of Zebedee<\/strong> and imprisoned Peter<\/strong> before his miraculous escape.<\/li>\n
    2. Berenice<\/strong>, twice widowed, left her third husband to be with brother Agrippa II<\/strong> (rumored lover) and was with him at Festus\u2019s trial of Paul<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    3. King Herod Agrippa II<\/strong> (r. 50\u2013c. 93 C.E.) was appointed by Festus<\/strong> to hear Paul\u2019s<\/strong> defense.<\/li>\n
    4. Antonius Felix<\/strong>, Roman procurator of Judea (r. 52\u2013c. 59 C.E.), Paul\u2019s<\/strong> first judge, left him in prison for two years until new procurator Porcius Festus<\/strong> (r. c. 60\u201362 C.E.) became the second judge, and Paul<\/strong> appealed to Caesar.<\/li>\n
    5. Drusilla<\/strong> left her first husband to marry Roman governor Felix<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \nBAS Library Members<\/strong>: Read Lawrence Mykytiuk’s article “      New Testament Political Figures Confirmed<\/a>” in the September\/October 2017 issue of BAR<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Not a BAS<\/em> Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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      This Bible History Daily feature was originally published on September 25, 2017.<\/em><\/small>
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      Become a BAS All-Access Member\u00a0Now!<\/h3>\r\n

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      Related reading in Bible History Daily<\/em><\/h4>\n

      Herod\u2019s Death, Jesus\u2019 Birth and a Lunar Eclipse<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n