Jewish Women Initiating Divorce in Antiquity

Josephus writes disapprovingly of two women in the Herodian family who divorce their husbands, which he describes as a violation of Jewish law. The first is Herod the Great’s sister Salome, who divorces her husband Costobarus, which she justifies to Herod by claiming that Costobarus has been conspiring against him (see also “Salome”). The second is Herod the Great’s granddaughter Herodias, who divorces Herod Philip and marries Herod Antipas (also called Herod the Tetrarch), both sons of Herod the Great through different wives (see also “Herodias and Her Daughter Salome”). It is important to note that these women were members of a royal family, so their actions are not necessarily representative of general Jewish practice. In stating that their actions are contrary to Jewish law, Josephus may be voicing an anti-Herodian polemic.