HEROD MURDERS HIS WIFE MARIAMME

'Mariamme Leaving the Judgement Seat of Herod'
John William Waterhouse, 1887

This painting recreates the moment when the beautiful young wife of Herod was condemned to death by her jealous husband. The event took place in the royal palace in Jerusalem (image of a reconstruction below).

Model of the Palace of the Royal Family, Jerusalem
See HEROD for the tragic story of this brilliant, murderous genius

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After the murder of her young brother at the palace at Jericho (see 'DEATH AT JERICHO'), the relationship between Herod and his beautiful young wife Mariamme deteriorated. She wanted to believe Herod's story, that the death had been a tragic accident, but her suspicions got the better of her. She taunted and belittled him - these were the only weapons she had. Eventually, in Jerusalem, things came to a head.

The Jewish historian Josephus, always trying to make Herod appear in a good light, tells the story:

'....she was a chaste woman, and faithful to him; yet treated her husband imperiously enough, because she saw he was so fond of her as to be enslaved to her. She would behave herself after a saucy manner to him, which yet he usually put off in a jesting way, and bore with moderation and good temper.

She would also expose his mother and his sister openly, on account of the meanness of their birth, and would speak unkindly of them, insomuch that there was before this a disagreement and unpardonable hatred among the women.

However, these misfortunes, which had been kept under some decency for a great while, burst out all at once upon such an occasion as was now offered; for as the king one day about noon lay down on his bed to rest, he called for Mariamne, out of the great affection he had always for her.

She came in accordingly, but would not lie down by him; and when he was very desirous of her company, she showed her contempt of him; and added, by way of reproach, that he had caused her father and her brother to be slain. 

He took this injury very unkindly, and was ready to use violence to her. Then the king's sister Salome, observing that he was more than ordinarily disturbed, sent in to the king his cup-bearer, who had been prepared long beforehand for such a design, bidding him tell the king how Mariamne had persuaded him to give his assistance in preparing a love potion for him (Herod was terrified of being poisoned).

So he went in, after a composed manner and yet somewhat hastily, and said that Mariamne had given him presents, and persuaded him to give him a love potion. And when this moved the king, he said that this love potion was a composition that she had given him, whose effects he did not know.

When Herod heard what he said, and was in an ill disposition before, his indignation grew more violent; and he ordered that eunuch of Mariamne, who was most faithful to her, to be brought to torture, knowing it was not possible that any thing small or great could be done without him.

And when the man was under the utmost agonies, he could say nothing concerning the thing he was tortured about, but so far he knew, that Mariamne's hatred against him was occasioned by somewhat that Sohemus had said to her.

Now as he was saying this, Herod cried out aloud, and said that Sohemus, who had been at all other times most faithful to him, and to his government, would not have betrayed him, unless he had had a nearer conversation than ordinary with Mariamne (Herod was extremely jealous).

So he gave order that Sohemus should be seized on and slain immediately; but he allowed his wife to take her trial; and got together those that were most faithful to him, and laid an elaborate accusation against her for this love potion. However, he kept no temper in what he said, and was in too great a passion for judging well about this matter.

Accordingly, when the court was at length satisfied that he was so resolved, they passed the sentence of death upon her; but when the sentence was passed upon her, it was suggested by himself, and by some others of the court, that she should not be hastily put to death, but be laid in prison in one of the fortresses belonging to the kingdom.

But Salome and her party labored hard to have the woman put to death; and they prevailed with the king to do so, and advised this out of caution, lest the multitude should be tumultuous if she were suffered to live; and thus was Mariamne led to execution.... 

She went to her death with an unshaken firmness of mind, and without changing the color of her face, and thereby discovered the nobility of her descent to the spectators, even in the last moments of her life. And thus died Mariamne, a woman of an excellent character, both for chastity and greatness of soul....

But when she was once dead, the king's affections for her were kindled in a more outrageous manner than before; for his love to her was not of a calm nature, nor such as we usually meet with among other husbands.

His love for Mariamne seemed to seize him in such a peculiar manner, as looked like Divine vengeance upon him for the taking away her life; for he would frequently call for her, and frequently lament for her in a most indecent manner.'
Josephus, Antiquities, 15:7:4

  A silken cord was used to strangle Mariamme, the Hasmonean princess