This it the "King" appointed by Rome to rule over Judea from about 37 to 4 BC. He was the one responsible for the killing of baby boys - the action that led Jospeh and Mary to take Jesus to Egypt.
What is interesting about this account is that
"It was an ancient staircase built for Herod's funeral procession - described in
detail by First Century historian Josephus Flavius - that led Prof Netzer's
team
to the hill-top burial site.
'The monumental stairs were built
specifically
for the funeral,' Prof Netzer said."
From a Christian apologetic point of view it is very interesting that the writings of Josephus Flavius (not a Christian, a historian writing in the first century AD) have proved reliable in this case. Does this not add some weight to what else Josephus Flavius writes about, namely:
- Jesus was "called Christ"
- James was his brother (and was stoned)
- Herod Agrippa dies suddently [c/- Acts 12:19-23]
- Herod Antipas killed John the Baptist
- Jesus was a wise man
- Jesus did suprising feats
- Jesus was a teacher
- Jesus led away Jews and Greeks
- Pilate condemned Jesus to the cross
- Jesus was impeached by high standing Jews
- Jesus' following continued after his death (and until when Josephus wrote this in about 90AD)
Also - with some dispute amongst scholars as to Josephus really saying the following (he was apparently anti-Christian ):
- Jesus was more than just a man
- Jesus was the Christ
- Jesus appeared on the thrid day (after his crucifixion0 alive again.
