ANTIPATRO. — Three members of the Herodian family.
1. Founder of the Idumean family of the Herods, often wrongly confused with the father of Herod the Great. Rich and influential, he was appointed governor (strategos) ANANO (v.).
2. Son of the preceding and father of Herod the Great. He was called Antipas to distinguish him from his father, as long as the latter lived. Flavio Giuseppe (Bell. Iud., I, 6, 2) describes him as an Idumean of noble birth; but the legend arose that he was an Ascalonite (s. Giustino, C. Tryph., chap. 52), and Giulio Africano (in Eusebio, Hist. Eccl., I, 7, 11) adds that his father was a hierodule of the temple of Apollo in Ascalon and that A. was kidnapped as a child and taken to Idumea. Cunning and ambitious, A. succeeded, from his position as mere governor of Idumea, in directing the fate of Palestine.
In the civil struggle between Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus, he supported the former, for whom he effectively governed, assisting the Romans in the campaigns of 63–62, forcing the Nabataeans to submit to them, supplying the governor of Syria, Gabinius, with grain, arms, and money for the expedition to Egypt in 55, and persuading the others to take the Roman side in Egypt. During Alessandro’s uprising (55), he made every effort to dissuade the Jews from fighting against Gabinius, who defeated them at Tabor. As a reward, Gabinius reorganized everything in accordance with his wishes in the administration of Judea.
A. achieved his rapid rise chiefly by appealing to Giulio Cesare after Pharsalus and Pompey’s death in Egypt (28 September 48 B.C.). He made the dictator’s victory possible by facilitating the arrival at Alexandria of Mitridate’s auxiliary army and by playing a leading role in the victory over Tolomeo Dionisio, Cleopatra’s brother. In gratitude, Cesare granted A. Roman citizenship, exemption from tribute, and the title of procurator (of finance) of Judea. While he was working to secure the throne for his son Herod, he was poisoned by Malico, a courtier of Hyrcanus (43 B.C.). Although he was a “foreigner” and lacked Jewish patriotism, he had obtained favors for the Jews from Cesare.
3. Firstborn son of Herod the Great, born of his first marriage (to Doria). He was the malevolent demon who disrupted his father’s life. Because of a conspiracy and an attempt at parricide, Herod had him executed shortly before his own death (4 B.C.). Giovanni Ongaro