Herod the Great

The UB presents a complex portrait of Herod. He was an Idumean (Edomite) who seized control of Judea by cultivating Roman favor, and while he observed Hebrew ceremonial practices outwardly, he simultaneously built temples for many foreign gods -- a political pragmatist rather than a man of faith. His positive contributions included building the harbor of Caesarea, which strengthened Palestine as a global crossroads, and his friendly relations with Rome enhanced security for Jewish travelers, facilitating the Jewish diaspora that later enabled Christian missionary expansion.