Geza Vermes provides a fascinating new portrait of Herod, examining Herod's legacy as a political leader, a potentate and a man of culture.

Geza Vermes was Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies at the University of Oxford, UK.

Part I: A Bird's Eye view of Biblical History 1. From King David to the start of the Hellenistic Period 2. From the arrival of Hellenization in Judaea to the outbreak of the Maccabaean Uprising 3. The Maccabee Trio: Judas - Jonathan - Simon 4. The Hasmonaeans from John Hyrcanus to Mattathias Antigonus Part II: Herod the Great Prologue: The main events of Roman history during Herod's age Introduction 1. Herod prior to his appointment as king (73/2 -40 BCE) 2. Herod, king of the Jews (40 - 4 BCE) (a) Herod consolidates his rule (37 - 25 BCE) (b) Herod, the builder (25 - 13 BCE) (c) The decline (13- 4 BCE) 3. Herod the Villain or Herod the Great (a) The portrait of Herod (b) Herod's character (c) Evaluation of Herod's positive and negative achievements Appendix: Herod in literature and cinema Part III: The Descendants of Herod in the New Testament and Josephus 1. Herod Archelaus (4 BCE - 6 CE) 2. Herod Antipas (4 BCE - 39 CE) 3. Herod Philip (4 BCE - 33/4 CE) 4. Herod Agrippa I (41 - 44 CE) 5. Herod of Chalcis (41-48 CE) 6. Herod Agrippa II (50 - 92/3 or 100 CE) Conclusion Chronology of Herod's life Bibliography Index