Herod Antipas

Herod Antipas was a client ruler of Galilee and Peraea under the Roman Empire. He rebuilt cities including Tiberias, executed John the Baptist and appears in Christian accounts of the trial of Jesus before later being exiled by the emperor Caligula.

Antipas ruled from 4 BCE to 39 CE, founded Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and is associated in the New Testament with the execution of John the Baptist and the proceedings against Jesus. Caligula later removed him from power and sent him into exile.

Jeffrey Archer’s The Gospel According to Judas revisits encounters involving John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Peter and Herod Antipas before reaching the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Herod Antipas is treated fictionally in Robert Graves’ King Jesus, Margaret George’s Mary, Called Magdalene, Doug Peterson’s Swords in the Desert, and Doug Peterson’s Thrones in the Desert.