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dedication； for he had appointed a contention in music； and games
to be performed naked。 He had also gotten ready a great number of
those that fight single combats； and of beasts for the like
purpose； horse races also； and the most chargeable of such sports
and shows as used to be exhibited at Rome； and in other places。
He consecrated this combat to Caesar； and ordered it to be
celebrated every fifth year。 He also sent all sorts of ornaments
for it out of his own furniture； that it might want nothing to
make it decent； nay； Julia； Caesar's wife； sent a great part of
her most valuable furniture ＇from Rome＇； insomuch that he had no
want of any thing。 The sum of them all was estimated at five
hundred talents。 Now when a great multitude was come to that city
to see the shows； as well as the ambassadors whom other people
sent； on account of the benefits they had received from Herod； he
entertained them all in the public inns； and at public tables；
and with perpetual feasts； this solemnity having in the day time
the diversions of the fights； and in the night time such merry
meetings as cost vast sums of money； and publicly demonstrated
the generosity of his soul； for in all his undertakings he was
ambitious to exhibit what exceeded whatsoever had been done
before of the same kind。 And it is related that Caesar and
Agrippa often said； that the dominions of Herod were too little
for the greatness of his soul； for that he deserved to have both
all the kingdom of Syria； and that of Egypt also。
2。 After this solemnity and these festivals were over； Herod
erected another city in the plain called Capharsaba； where he
chose out a fit place； both for plenty of water and goodness of
soil； and proper for the production of what was there planted；
where a river encompassed the city itself； and a grove of the
best trees for magnitude was round about it： this he named
Antipatris； from his father Antipater。 He also built upon another
spot of ground above Jericho； of the same name with his mother； a
place of great security and very pleasant for habitation； and
called it Cypros。 He also dedicated the finest monuments to his
brother Phasaelus； on account of the great natural affection
there had been between them； by erecting a tower in the city
itself； not less than the tower of Pharos； which he named
Phasaelus； which was at once a part of the strong defenses of the
city； and a memorial for him that was deceased； because it bare
his name。 He also built a city of the same name in the valley of
Jericho； as you go from it northward； whereby he rendered the
neighboring country more fruitful by the cultivation its
inhabitants introduced； and this also he called Phasaelus。
3。 But as for his other benefits； it is impossible to reckon them
up； those which he bestowed on cities； both in Syria and in
Greece； and in all the places he came to in his voyages； for he
seems to have conferred； and that after a most plentiful manner；
what would minister to many necessities； and the building of
public works； and gave them the money that was necessary to such
works as wanted it； to support them upon the failure of their
other revenues： but what was the greatest and most illustrious of
all his works； he erected Apollo's temple at Rhodes； at his own
expenses； and gave them a great number of talents of silver for
the repair of their fleet。 He also built the greatest part of the
public edifices for the inhabitants of Nicopolis； at Actium； （6）
and for the Antiochinus； the inhabitants of the principal city of
Syria； where a broad street cuts through the place lengthways； he
built cloisters along it on both sides； and laid the open road
with polished stone； and was of very great advantage to the
inhabitants。 And as to the olympic games； which were in a very
low condition； by reason of the failure of their revenues； he
recovered their reputation； and appointed revenues for heir
maintenance； and made that solemn meeting more venerable； as to
the sacrifices and other ornaments； and by reason of this vast
liberality； he was generally declared in their inscriptions to be
one of the perpetual managers of those games。
4。 Now some there are who stand amazed at the diversity of
Herod's nature and purposes； for when we have respect to his
magnificence； and the benefits which he bestowed on all mankind；
there is no possibility for even those that had the least respect
for him to deny； or not openly to confess； that he had a nature
vastly beneficent； but when any one looks upon the punishments he
inflicted； and the injuries he did； not only to his subjects； but
to his nearest relations； and takes notice of his severe and
unrelenting disposition there； he will be forced to allow that he
was brutish； and a stranger to all humanity； insomuch that these
men suppose his nature to be different； and sometimes at
contradiction with itself； but I am myself of another opinion；
and imagine that the occasion of both these sort of actions was
one and the same； for being a man ambitious of honor； and quite
overcome by that passion； he was induced to be magnificent；
wherever there appeared any hopes of a future memorial； or of
reputation at present； and as his expenses were beyond his
abilities； he was necessitated to be harsh to his subjects； for
the persons on whom he expended his money were so many； that they
made him a very bad procurer of it； and because he was conscious
that he was hated by those under him； for the injuries he did
them； he thought it not an easy thing to amend his offenses； for
that it was inconvenient for his revenue； he therefore strove on
the other side to make their ill…will an occasion of his gains。
As to his own court； therefore； if any one was not very
obsequious to him in his language； and would not confess himself
to be his slave； or but seemed to think of any innovation in his
government； he was not able to contain himself； but prosecuted
his very kindred and friends； and punished them as if they were
enemies and this wickedness he undertook out of a desire that he
might be himself alone honored。 Now for this； my assertion about
that passion of his； we have the greatest evidence； by what he
did to honor Caesar and Agrippa； and his other friends； for with
what honors he paid his respects to them who were his superiors；
the same did he desire to be paid to himself； and what he thought
the most excellent present he could make another； he discovered
an inclination to have the like presented to himself。 But now the
Jewish nation is by their law a stranger to all such things； and
accustomed to prefer righteousness to glory； for which reason
that nation was not agreeable to him； because it was out of their
power to flatter the king's ambition with statues or temples； or
any other such performances； And this seems to me to have been at
once the occasion of Herod's crimes as to his own courtiers and
counselors； and of his benefactions as to foreigners and those
that had no relation to him。
CHAPTER 6。
An Embassage In Cyrene And Asia To Caesar； Concerning The
Complaints They Had To Make Against The Greeks； With Copies Of
The Epistles Which Caesar And Agrippa Wrote To The Cities For
Them。
1。 Now the cities ill…treated the Jews in Asia； and all those
also of the same nation which lived ill Libya； which joins to
Cyrene； while the former kings had given them equal privileges
with the other citizens； but the Greeks affronted them at this
time； and that so far as to take away their sacred money； and to
do them mischief on other particular occasions。 When therefore
they were thus afflicted； and found no end of their barbarous
treatment they met with among the Greeks； they sent ambassadors
to Caesar on those accounts； who gave them the same privileges as
they had before； and sent letters to the same purpose to the
governors of the provinces； copies of which I subjoin here； as
testimonials of the ancient favorable disposition the Roman
emperors had towards us。
2。 〃Caesar Augustus； high priest and tribune of the people；
ordains thus： Since the nation of the Jews hath been found
grateful to the Roman people； not only at this time； but in time
past also； and chiefly Hyrcanus the high priest； under my father
（7） Caesar the emperor； it seemed good to me and my counselors；
according to the sentence and oath of the people of Rome； that
the Jews have liberty to make use of their own customs； according
to the law of their forefathers； as they made use of them under
Hyrcanus the high priest of the Almighty God； and that their
sacred money be not touched； but be sent to Jerusalem； and that
it be committed to the care of the receivers at Jerusalem； and
that they be not obliged to go before any judge on the sabbath
day； nor on the day of the preparation to it； after the ninth
hour。 （8） But if any one be caught stealing their holy books； or
their sacred money； whether it be out of the synagogue or public
school； he shall be deemed a sacrilegious person； and his goods
shall be brought into the public treasury of the Romans。 And I
give order that the testimonial which they have given me； on
account of my regard to that piety which I exercise toward all
mankin