{"product_id":"herod-the-great-statesman-visionary-tyrant-9781442210653","title":"Herod the Great: Statesman  Visionary  Tyrant","description":"\u003cp\u003eHerod the Great  king of ancient Judea  was a brutal  ruthless  vindictive and dangerously high-strung tyrant. He had many of his subjects killed on suspicion of plotting against him and was accused of slaughtering children in Bethlehem when informed that a new king of the Jews had been born there. Among the victims of the murderous paranoia that ultimately drove him to the brink of insanity were his three oldest sons and the wife he loved most. But there was a crucial aspect to Herods character that has been largely ignored over the centuries. Norman Gelb explores how Herod transformed his formerly strive-ridden kingdom into a modernizing  economically thriving  orderly state of international significance and repute within the sprawling Roman Empire. This reassessment of Herod as ruler of Judaea introduces a striking contrast between a rulers infamy and his extraordinary laudable achievements. As this account shows  despite his horrific failings and ultimate mental unbalance  Herod was a fascinatingly complex  dynamic  and largely constructive statesman  a figure of great public accomplishment and one of the most underrated personalities of ancient times. History buffs and those interested in popular ancient history can are introduced to this ruthless tyrant and his victims.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67894538797109,"sku":"ByrdShop_1442210656","price":38.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781442210653.jpg?v=1793765772","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/herod-the-great-statesman-visionary-tyrant-9781442210653","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}