Herod the Great Shows His True Colors

Abstract

Numismatics takes center stage as the author paints a different picture of Herod the Great. Our knowledge of this ancient ruler derives mostly from ancient written sources, principally the works of the first century CE Jewish historian, Josephus, which were composed a century or more later and reflect the bias of the author. But a look at Herod's coins offers us some insights into the ideology of this monarch. You may be surprised to find that the images on Herod's largest bronze coin refer to Greek mythology and religious ritual. The composition on the reverse of this bronze piece is identified as a Greek banqueting rite in homage to the "savior" deities, the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux), while the obverse bears the tripod of Apollo. The portrayal of these and other pagan symbols on Herod's coins raises some interesting questions about his religious orientation and state ideology.