The Army of Herod the Great

Herod was Rome's most important and powerful ally at the end of the Republic.

Although he has entered posterity as a ruthless ruler not only against his own family but also, according to the gospel of Matthew, as the instigator of the slaughter of the innocents. However, he was also an able administrator who developed a powerful army. At its peak Herod's army could field approximately 40,000 men, both Judaean and mercenary soldiers with troops from the Germanic tribes to Parthians to Romans. As a result of this varied composition it showed both strong Hellenistic influence in its armour and cavalry and Roman influence in its use of heavy infantry making it an intriguing topic for military history enthusiasts.

The first study in English of its kind, this is a fascinating look at the ancient army of Herod the Great based on up-to-date Israeli archaeological reports and finds, including weapons and armour fragments.