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God Save the King is a research and teaching project that reframes and retells the Nativity Story as it really would have happened biblically and historically. Tim Keyes–Author
Personal or Politics? Herod the Great’s Game of Thrones
Herod’s father, Antipater II, was assassinated by a political enemy, to which Herod responded in kind. His brother Phasael’s death is shrouded in mystery—did he commit suicide or was he murdered while in Parthian custody? During his career, Herod “executed” Read More …
What Route Did the Magi Take?
It has been my theory for years that the route the Magi took followed the Euphrates Road (parallel to the river) northwest from the Parthian capital at Ctesiphon to the fortress city of Dura, and then turned west across the Read More …
The House of Suren
Surena, also known as Rustaham Suren, was a Parthian general during the first century BCE. He is best known for defeating the Romans, under the command of triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae in 53 BCE. According Read More …
Clement of Alexandria–Stromata
I recently read an article that pushed back at the idea that Jesus was not born on December 25th. The article claimed to “prove” that Jesus was in fact born of December 25th. Sadly, the article contained a lot of Read More …
The Records of the Grand Historian
German-American sinologist (expert in Chinese studies) Friedrich Hirth (b.1845-d.1927), wrote China and the Roman Orient: Researches into Their Ancient and Medieval Relations as Represented in Old Chinese Records in 1885. In his book, he cites The Records of the Grand Read More …
The Parthian Legislature
The Parthian legislature was a bicameral institution. “Camera” is Latin for “chamber” hence, bi-cameral = two chambers. (Not to be confused with “two camels”.) The “upper house” was essentially the royals, or royal family—the Arsacid dynasty. The “lower house” consisted Read More …
Shimon ben Boethus, Kohen Gadol
Immediately upon ascending the throne of the Roman client kingdom of Judaea, Herod the Great took it upon himself to appoint whomever he chose to the office of High Priest. His fifth appointment, in roughly 21 BCE, was one Simon, Read More …
What You Didn’t Know About the “Census” of Luke 2
(1) And it came to pass in those days {that} a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. (3) So, all went to Read More …
Callirrhoe: What’s in a Name?
“…and went beyond the river Jordan, and bathed himself in the warm baths that were at Callirrhoe…” Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 17.6.5 “Callirrhoe” (pronounced kal-eer-ho-ee) in Greek means, “beautiful stream”. The phrase therma kallirhoes means, “warm beautiful stream”. In Read More …
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Although Herod the Great lacked a classical Greek or Roman education, he was as cultivated as any in his rank. He was also an accomplished athlete. He was a patron of the Games and built and gifted gymnasiums, stadia, and Read More …