Josephus and Antipas: A case study of Josephus’ narratives on Herod Antipas

A comprehensive approach including utilization of models for the case study of Josephus' narratives on Herod Antipas is warranted only on the basis of well-argued presentations of each corpus of material. This chapter aims to make a step in that direction by presenting the material about Antipas in the writings of Josephus and to evaluate it within its own context. It attempts to examine Josephus' description of Antipas within its context. The case to investigate concerns what kind of picture we have of Antipas in the writings of Josephus. Is it incoherent and incomplete? Or is clear-cut and aimed? Only after that such a literary analysis can a historical synthetic approach proceed. Antipas is described as having close connections with the Roman emperor Tiberius A.D. as with Herod the Great, this Roman preference is coupled with an insensitive attitude towards the Jewish religion. Keywords: Herod Antipas; Jewish religion; Josephus' naratives