Parthian Invasion, Phasael’s Death, and Herod’s Flight to Rome

Josephus

The Jewish War 1.248–279

ca. 75

The Parthians Attack Judaea

Two years later, Barzaphanes, the Parthian satrap, together with the king’s son, Pacorus, occupied Syria. Lysanias had now inherited the principality of Chalcis on the death of his father, Ptolemy the son of Mennaeus. With the promise of 1,000 talents and 500 women he persuaded the satrap to agree to bring back…
Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Mark Antony appointed Herod and his older brother, Phasael, as tetrarchs over Judaea. They became two of the four Roman-appointed rulers sharing power over a divided territory. In their assault on Jerusalem, however, Parthian forces took Phasael captive and disfigured Hyrcanus. Herod eventually fled the battle and encountered widespread resistance from Jewish locals. The Parthians placed Antigonus on the throne, and Phasael died in captivity and, according to Josephus, martyred himself. Herod secured passage to Alexandria and eventually made his way to Rome.

Read more

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.

You may also like

Herod Takes Jerusalem

When the storm died down, he advanced on Jerusalem and marched his army right up to the walls on what was coincidentally the third anniversary of his proclamation as king in…
View Source

The End of the Hasmonean Priesthood

Herod was then made king by the Romans, but he no longer appointed high priests from the family of Asamoneus [i.e., the Hasmoneans]. Rather, he chose certain men not from eminent families who could…
View Source

Augustus Expands Herod’s Kingdom

At the end of the first Actiad Caesar added again to Herod’s kingdom, giving him the district known as Trachonitis and the adjacent areas of Batanaea and Auranitis. What had happened was this…
View Source