Main Menu | List of entries | finished

HERODES2. Herod Antipas became Tetrarch of Galilee upon the death of his father, Herod the Great, in 4 B.C. He married his niece, Herodias, who had been his brother's wife, a marriage that John the Baptist condemned. When Salome, his wife's daughter, danced at his birthday feast, Herod promised to give whatever she asked for. Her mother told her to ask for the Baptist's head. Herod was very sorry but could not take back his word. John was beheaded, and his head presented on a large dish to Salome, who then gave the head to Herodias (Matthew 14:1-11; Mark 6:17-28).

The Pardoner says that Herod, when drunk, commanded the slaying of John the Baptist, PardT 488-490. The Biblical accounts emphasize that Herod was sorry for Salome's request. The Prioress calls the Jews "cursed folk of Herodes all newe," PrT 574-575. The Prioress may be referring to the Play of Herod, which centers on Herod the Great and not on Herod Antipas (see Herodes1). [Absolon2: Baptist John: Herodes1]

Herodes is nominative case in PardT 488 and genitive case in PrT 574.


The Fleury Play of Herod, ed. T. Bailey; A.H.M. Jones, The Herods of Judaea, 176-183.
From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.

Main Menu | List of entries | finished