Tristan Hughes

They took the walls and stormed the city, slaughtering everyone they met as the Romans rampaged through Jerusalem's narrow streets.

Defeated, Antigonus surrendered to the Romans and was imprisoned.

But Herod had other ideas.

Paying Mark Antony a large sum of money, Herod persuaded him to have Antigonus executed.

Antigonus' death marked the end of the Hasmonean dynasty and the beginning of the Herodian dynasty.

Herod had won.

Through blood and battle, family tragedies and foreign support, Herod had risen to become king of Judea.

In the past, he had been overshadowed by the likes of his father and older brother, but now he ruled supreme power.

Herod would rule for 37 years, adorning his kingdom with some of Judea's most famous ancient architecture.

He established lavish palace fortresses across the land, including at Masada.

He rebuilt, expanded and glorified Jerusalem's temple, the centre of Jewish worship and the house of their god.

He created new cities adorned with Roman and Greek architecture.

His monumental tomb is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of recent history.

His colossal building programs helped him become known as Herod the Great.

But he was also ruthless, a paranoid tyrant who would murder several members of his own family and whose legacy has become entwined with the fabled biblical slaughter.

Well, there you go.

There was our special episode talking through the rise of Herod with not one, not two, but three fantastic experts.

Professors Benedict Eckhart and Helen Bond and Dr. Kimberly Tchaikovsky, all from the University of Edinburgh.

The story of Herod's rise is a fascinating one, so I really do hope you enjoyed the episode.

Thank you for listening.