Category:Death of John the Baptist (subject)

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The Death of John the Baptist refers to an episode in the life of John the Baptist. Since the Baptist was sentenced to death, his execution involves other characters: King Herod Antipas and his family (wife Herodias and step-daughter Salome).

The event is narrated with legendary traits (as the Banquet of Herod) in the Gospel of Mark (6:14-29) and in the Gospel of Matthew (14:1-12). It is only briefly mentioned in the Gospel of Luke (9:7-9) and in the writings of Josephus.

In its reception history, the event would be understood as the central episode in the life of Salome, who gradually replaced Herod Antipas and Herodias as the villain of the narrative.

People : John the Baptist -- Herod Antipas -- Herodias -- Salome

Subplots : Salome's Dance -- Beheading of John the Baptist -- Salome Presenting the Head of the Baptist to Herodias -- Carrying of the Body of John the Baptist -- Burial of John the Baptist

< Life of John the Baptist : Annunciation to Zacharias -- Visitation of Mary -- Birth of John the Baptist -- Child John the Baptist with Jesus -- Young John the Baptist in the Desert -- Preaching of John the Baptist -- Baptism of Jesus -- Question about Fasting -- Messengers from John the Baptist -- Death of John the Baptist -- Question about Authority -- Relics of John the Baptist >

Overview

The complex plot of Herodias, which led to the beheading of John the Baptist, is told only in the Gospel of Mark and in the Gospel of Matthew. According to this legend, Herodias took advantage of the promise of reward that Herod Antipas made to her daughter (Salome) for dancing in his presence. Prompted by her mother, Salome asked for the head of the Baptist.

The Gospel of Luke (which is more historically oriented) omitted the legend of the banquet of Herod, while confirming that Herod Antipas executed John. So did Josephus, who added the detail that John was imprisoned and killed in the fortress of Machaerus. The narrative of the death of John the Baptist is absent in the Gospel of John, which however alluded to it confirming that John the Baptist was "put to prison."

The legendary narrative of Mark and Matthew includes various elements that would captivate the readers' imagination for centuries to come. The character of Salome would gradually emerge from being the innocent instrument of her mother's wrath to that of the mischievous (and even sadistic) protagonist of the entire story.

Death of John the Baptist, in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV) -- [14] King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." 23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 14:1-12 (NRSV) -- [1] At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; 2 and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 because John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7 so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9 The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.

Gospel of Luke

Luke 9:7-9 (NRSV) -- [7] Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, [8] by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. [9] Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see him.

Josephus

Ant XVIII 5, 2 -- Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army [by the Nabateans] came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him... Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise,) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Machaerus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him.

Cf. Gospel of John

John 3:23-24 -- [23] ...people were coming and being baptized [24] for John had not yet been put in prison...

Herod's Banquet

Salome's Dance

"When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7 so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask" (Mt 14:6-7; cf. Mk 6:21-23).

The Dance of young Salome before Herod Antipas on occasion of the king's birthday triggered Herodias's vengeance against John the Baptist. A colorful and intriguing detail in the narrative, in popular imagination the dance took a life of its own as an exotic and lustful tool of seduction (the Dance of the Seven Veils).

Beheading of John the Baptist

"The king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison" (Mk 6:27; cf. Mt 14:9-10).

That John the Baptist was beheaded is affirmed not only in Mark and Matthew, but also in the Gospel of Luke, which preserves the statement by Herod: "John, whom I beheaded." The Gospel of John only mention that John the Baptist was put in prison, while Josephus does not specify the kind of death John suffered.

In early Christian iconography, the actual beheading was rarely depicted, as a marginal elements in representations of Herod's Banquet (Gozzoli, Lippi). It then became a powerful scene of its own in the works of artists like Danti, Caravaggio, Tiepolo or Puvis de Chavannes.

Dance of Salome (1462 Gozzoli), art
Beheading of John the Baptist (1465 Lippi), art
Beheading of St John the Baptist (1571 Danti), art
Beheading of St. John the Baptist (1608 Caravaggio), art
Beheading of John the Baptist (1733 Tiepolo), art
Beheading of John the Baptist (1869 Puvis de Chavannes), art

Presentation of the Head of the Baptist

"(A soldier of the guard) brought (the head) on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother" (Mk 6:28); "The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother" (Mt 14:11).

The gruesome detail that the girl Salome received the head of the Baptist "on a platter", became the distinctive feature in the iconographic representations of Salome, making her a sort of evil (and younger) version of Judith.

In the "original" sequence of events, according to Mark and Matthew, Salome received the head of the Baptist by the executioner and brought it not to Herod Antipas but to her mother Herodias.

It is not said that the head of the Baptist was also presented to Herod, but gradually this interpretation became central in every representation of Herod's Banquet. In earlier versions the head is carried by a soldier or servant on a platter (Donatello), later on (Cranach, Rubens) it is Salome herself who did it.

Carrying and Burial of the Body of John the Baptist

"When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb" (Mk 6:29; "His disciples came and took the body and buried it" (Mt 14:12).

The event is rarely represented, sometimes as two distinct episodes.