Berenice I
Berenice bat Salome was a member of the House of Herod, the daughter of Herod's sister Salome I and Costobarus, the wife of Aristobulus IV, and the mother of Herod Agrippa I, Herod of Chalcis, Herodias, Mariamne III and Aristobulus Minor.
- This page is edited by Gabriele Boccaccini, University of Michigan
Overview
Berenice was the niece of Herod the Great, the daughter of his sister Salome I and the governor of Idumea Costobarus.
Berenice married her cousin Aristobulus IV, the son of Herod the Great and Mariamne. She also thus joined the powerful House of Hasmoneus. The couple had five children, Herodias, Herod Agrippa I, Herod of Chalcis, Mariamne III and Aristobulus Minor.
The marriage did not bring peace to the rival families. Berenice remained loyal to her mother Salome I and so did Aristobulus IV with his grand-mother Alexandra the Hasmonean. Eventually in 6 BCE Aristobulus IV and his grandmother were executed by Herod the Great.
Berenice then married Theudion, the maternal uncle of Antipater, son of Herod I. Her second husband also was put to death for participation in a plot against Herod; and Berenice then married Herod Archelaus. With him she went to Rome and remained there until her death, enjoying the favor of the imperial household.
Berenice in ancient sources
Berenice is mentioned in Jewish sources (Josephus).
- See Berenice (sources) -- survey of ancient sources
Berenice in literature & the arts
Berenice in scholarship
Related categories
- House of Herod / Salome I / Costobarus / Herod the Great
- House of Hasmoneus / Herod Agrippa I / Herodias / Herod of Chalcis