Mariamne

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Mariamne I in "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"

Mariamne , often also Mariamme (Greek Μαριάμη, from Hebrew Miriam ), (* around 54 BC; † 29 BC ) was a princess of the Hasmonean dynasty and the second wife of Herod I , the Great. Her parents were Alexandra and her cousin Alexandros . Her great grandmother was Queen Salome Alexandra . Mariamne - also known as Mariamne (I) - must not be confused with Mariamne (II), the daughter of Simon Boethos , who was 23 BC. Later became the wife of King Herod.

Biographical data

Herod with Mariamne before her execution (left). Illumination (by Colin d'Amiens?) In a manuscript of an anonymous French translation made in 1401 of Giovanni Boccaccio 's De mulieribus claris (Geneva, Bibliothèque Publique et Universitaire, Ms. 191, fol. 221r; around 1465/1470)

In 42 BC Herod, over thirty years old, got engaged to twelve year old Mariamne. It is believed that the Idumean hoped for benefits from a marriage with the Hasmoneans. Other sources call it a love wedding. Herod married the Hasmonean woman in 37. After marrying Mariamne, Herod disowned both his first wife Doris and his son Antipater. Mariamne became the main wife in the following period.

Herod's relationship with Mariamne was one of possessive passion. It is credible when Josephus reports that Herod gave the order in at least two cases to kill Mariamne if he did not return alive from trips abroad.

Early 36 or early 35 BC At the urging of his mother-in-law, Herod appointed Mariamne's sixteen-year-old brother Aristobulus as high priest . Less than a year later, Aristobulus died, according to Josephus, murdered by his brother-in-law, who perceived the popular young man as a threat to the throne. 30 BC Herod also had Mariamne's grandfather, who was 40 BC. High priest John Hyrcanus II , deposed in BC , to execute. Mariamne, who possessed the pride of her Maccabees dynasty, never forgave him for this. Her mother Alexandra got involved in several intrigues against Herod and his sister Salome .

29 BC Mariamne was executed by Herod for alleged infidelity, also at the instigation of Salome. Herod then fell into a deep depression. Alexandra was also put to death a short time later. Herod later also had his sons from his marriage to Mariamne executed, because he feared that they might avenge their mother.

Characterized by Flavius ​​Josephus

Josephus described Mariamne as beautiful and "greatness of soul", yet he regarded her as unfathomable, quarrelsome and downright dangerous.

progeny

Mariamne bore several children to Herod , of whom the following are known by name:

  • Alexandros (* 36? BC; † 7 BC)
  • Aristobulus IV. (* 35? BC; † 7 BC)
  • Salampsio
  • Cypros

One of her grandsons of her son Alexander with Glaphyra became Tigranes V, the last Artaxid king of Armenia . Through her son Aristobulus, who married his cousin Berenike , she became the grandmother of the Judean king Herod Agrippa I.

Literary processing

The tragic events inspired many literary adaptations, the best known being the drama The Tragedy of Mariam by Elizabeth Cary , 1613, and Herodes and Mariamne by Christian Friedrich Hebbel , 1844.

swell

literature

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Quoted from Richard D. Sullivan, Art. Mariamme In: David Noel Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Doubleday 1992, ISBN 3-438-01121-2 , Vol. 4, p. 540
personal data
SURNAME Mariamne
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mariamme
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Princess of the Hasmonean dynasty, second wife of Herod the Great
DATE OF BIRTH around 54 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 29 BC Chr.