Doris and Her Son Antipater

Josephus

The Jewish War 1.432–591 (selections)

ca. 75

Doris and Antipater Are Expelled but Return after Mariamme’s Death

1.432–433, 448, 451, 473

When he came to the throne he had divorced the wife he took when still a commoner (she was a native of Jerusalem called Doris), and married Mariamme, daughter of Alexander the son of Aristobulus. She was the cause of the discord in his house, which began…
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Doris was married to Herod (ca. 47 BCE) before he became king. According to Josephus (The Jewish War 1.432), she was from Jerusalem. Her background is uncertain, but she was likely of Idumean origin. In 37 BCE, when Herod ascended the throne, he banished her and her son Antipater II from Jerusalem in order to marry Mariamme I, who was of Hasmonean descent. Herod permitted his first wife and son to return (ca. 14 BCE), only to banish them again when he discovered that they were colluding with his brother Pheroras against him. Doris seems to have supported her son in his schemes against his half brothers and against Herod.

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Creator Bio

Josephus

37–100

Flavius Josephus was born into a prominent Jewish priestly family and served as a general stationed in the Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt (66–73 CE). He was captured by the Romans and eventually integrated into the Flavian imperial aristocracy, who commissioned him to compose chronicles of the Jewish–Roman war and the history of the Jews. Josephus’ works, all written in Greek, include The Jewish War, Jewish Antiquities, Against Apion, and his autobiography, Life of Josephus. These writings provide important insights into the Judaisms of the Second Temple period and include one of the few surviving accounts of the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.

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