Antiquities Book 19, Chapter 8
What Other Acts Were Done By Agrippa Until His Death; And After What Manner He Died.
1. When Agrippa had finished what I have above related at Berytus, he
removed to Tiberias, a city of Galilee. Now he was in great esteem among
other kings. Accordingly there came to him Antiochus, king of Commalena,
Sampsigeratnus, king of Emesa, and Cotys, who was king of the Lesser
Armenia, and Polemo, who was king of Pontus, as also Herod his brother,
who was king of Chalcis. All these he treated with agreeable
entertainments, and after an obliging manner, and so as to exhibit the
greatness of his mind, and so as to appear worthy of those respects
which the kings paid to him, by coming thus to see him. However, while
these kings staid with him, Marcus, the president of Syria, came
thither. So the king, in order to preserve the respect that was due to
the Romans, went out of the city to meet him, as far as seven furlongs.
But this proved to be the beginning of a difference between him and
Marcus; for he took with him in his chariot those other kings as his
assessors. But Marcus had a suspicion what the meaning could be of so
great a friendship of these kings one with another, and did not think so
close an agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the
Romans. He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of them,
and enjoined them to go their ways home without further delay. This was
very ill taken by Agrippa, who after that became his enemy. And now he
took the high priesthood away from Matthias, and made Elioneus, the son
of Cantheras, high priest in his stead.
2. Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to
the city Cæsarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he
exhibited shows in honor of Cæsar, upon his being informed that there
was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which
festival a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons,
and such as were of dignity through his province. On the second day of
which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a
contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the
morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by
the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, shone out after a
surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over
those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried
out, one from one place, and another from another, [though not for his
good,] that he was a god; and they added, "Be thou merciful to us; for
although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we
henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king
did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But as he
presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl 21 sitting on a certain
rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the
messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good
tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also
arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. He therefore
looked upon his friends, and said, "I, whom you call a god, am commanded
presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying
words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am
immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept of
what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived
ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he said this, his pain
was become violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the
rumor went abroad every where, that he would certainly die in a little
time. But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and
children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the
king's recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation.
Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying
prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear weeping. And when
he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he
departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in
the seventh year of his reign; for he reigned four years under Caius
Cæsar, three of them were over Philip's tetrarchy only, and on the
fourth he had that of Herod added to it; and he reigned, besides those,
three years under the reign of Claudius Cæsar; in which time he reigned
over the forementioned countries, and also had Judea added to them, as
well as Samaria and Cæsarea. The revenues that he received out of them
were very great, no less than twelve millions of drachmae. 22 Yet did he
borrow great sums from others; for he was so very liberal that his
expenses exceeded his incomes, and his generosity was boundless. 23
3. But before the multitude were made acquainted with Agrippa's being
expired, Herod the king of Chalcis, and Helcias the master of his horse,
and the king's friend, sent Aristo, one of the king's most faithful
servants, and slew Silas, who had been their enemy, as if it had been
done by the king's own command.
removed to Tiberias, a city of Galilee. Now he was in great esteem among
other kings. Accordingly there came to him Antiochus, king of Commalena,
Sampsigeratnus, king of Emesa, and Cotys, who was king of the Lesser
Armenia, and Polemo, who was king of Pontus, as also Herod his brother,
who was king of Chalcis. All these he treated with agreeable
entertainments, and after an obliging manner, and so as to exhibit the
greatness of his mind, and so as to appear worthy of those respects
which the kings paid to him, by coming thus to see him. However, while
these kings staid with him, Marcus, the president of Syria, came
thither. So the king, in order to preserve the respect that was due to
the Romans, went out of the city to meet him, as far as seven furlongs.
But this proved to be the beginning of a difference between him and
Marcus; for he took with him in his chariot those other kings as his
assessors. But Marcus had a suspicion what the meaning could be of so
great a friendship of these kings one with another, and did not think so
close an agreement of so many potentates to be for the interest of the
Romans. He therefore sent some of his domestics to every one of them,
and enjoined them to go their ways home without further delay. This was
very ill taken by Agrippa, who after that became his enemy. And now he
took the high priesthood away from Matthias, and made Elioneus, the son
of Cantheras, high priest in his stead.
2. Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to
the city Cæsarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he
exhibited shows in honor of Cæsar, upon his being informed that there
was a certain festival celebrated to make vows for his safety. At which
festival a great multitude was gotten together of the principal persons,
and such as were of dignity through his province. On the second day of
which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a
contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the
morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by
the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it, shone out after a
surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over
those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried
out, one from one place, and another from another, [though not for his
good,] that he was a god; and they added, "Be thou merciful to us; for
although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we
henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king
did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But as he
presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl 21 sitting on a certain
rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the
messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good
tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also
arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner. He therefore
looked upon his friends, and said, "I, whom you call a god, am commanded
presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying
words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am
immediately to be hurried away by death. But I am bound to accept of
what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived
ill, but in a splendid and happy manner." When he said this, his pain
was become violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the
rumor went abroad every where, that he would certainly die in a little
time. But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and
children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the
king's recovery. All places were also full of mourning and lamentation.
Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying
prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear weeping. And when
he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he
departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in
the seventh year of his reign; for he reigned four years under Caius
Cæsar, three of them were over Philip's tetrarchy only, and on the
fourth he had that of Herod added to it; and he reigned, besides those,
three years under the reign of Claudius Cæsar; in which time he reigned
over the forementioned countries, and also had Judea added to them, as
well as Samaria and Cæsarea. The revenues that he received out of them
were very great, no less than twelve millions of drachmae. 22 Yet did he
borrow great sums from others; for he was so very liberal that his
expenses exceeded his incomes, and his generosity was boundless. 23
3. But before the multitude were made acquainted with Agrippa's being
expired, Herod the king of Chalcis, and Helcias the master of his horse,
and the king's friend, sent Aristo, one of the king's most faithful
servants, and slew Silas, who had been their enemy, as if it had been
done by the king's own command.