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Deep in the Peloponnese, an unexpected link to Judean history lies etched into the stones of the remains from Sparta. A remarkable inscription identifies an advisor to Herod the Great, revealing how far the influence of the infamous king’s court once traveled. This ancient artifact offers a rare, tangible bridge between the biblical era and the Byzantine “Wonder of the Morea.”
Click on the panel below to witness the connection.
The Herodians were a political faction in first-century Judea and Galilee composed of influential Jews who supported the continued rule of the Herodian dynasty and its alliance with the Roman Empire.
Click on the panel below for a quick look at “The Herodians: Who were They?”
We drive through an area of Egypt where memories of the Holy Family are strong. Watch the video.
The Northern Palace at Masada is a magnificent three-tiered “hanging” palace built by King Herod the Great between 37 and 31 BC. It cascades dramatically down the northern edge of a steep cliff. A modern metal stair transports our pilgrims from the Mosaic Christian Church down dizzying heights.
The Dead Sea stretches off in the distance.
Explorers walk the stair down to the lowest tier of the Northern Palace, Masada.
“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him” (Matt 2:3).
The response of Herod and Jerusalem (and potentially Rome itself) may be best appreciated in a wider geopolitical context. This is all the more significant given the reputation of the magoi as royal puppeteers in texts outside the Bible.
