fourth wife of
Herod
mother of
Archelaus &
Antipas
The fact that little is known
of Herod's 4th wife other than her Samaritan birth &
bearing two of his eventual heirs is testimony to her sense to
keep out of the court intrigues that doomed the king's first
three wives & their offspring. Where & when Herod met & married
Malthace went unrecorded. But a connection with his renovation
of the capitol of
Samaria which he dedicated to
Augustus is
highly likely.* While Malthace outlived her royal husband, she
did not survive her sons' quarrel over his will, dying in Rome
while they were appealing to the emperor.
References: Josephus,
Antiquities
17.20,
250.
_____, War
1.562,
2.39.
* Note: Josephus dates the
construction of
Sebaste between the 10th and 28th years of Herod's reign
(29-11 BCE). Since Herod presumably
married Malthace after he married
Mariamne II
(26 BCE) & the former's sons were both old
enough to be named his successors in his last wills (4
BCE) their marriage is best dated not
later than 24 BCE.
Other resource on
line:
Perspective on the World of Jesus 