top of page

Herod The Great, Reign from 37-4 BC


The coin above best represents the Roman influence over Judea with astrology. It was minted by Herod the Great who ended the Jewish Hasmonean Dynasty and did more to "Romanize" Judea then any other previous ruler. The obverse shows a military helmet and the reverse shows a solar eclipse which was directly over Judea when Herod the Great came to power in 37 BC. Herod obviously was paying close attention to the Star of Bethlehem story and this coin clearly shows how he viewed the heavens giving him the power to rule Judea. He had to be very careful as placing any sign on a coin that would show he has gained favor from the "gods" would be offensive to Augustus. He indirectly placed it on a Macedonian shield design. There are other shield designs in this series of coins. Photo from David Hendin and his store Amphora coins.


 

2000 years ago the cross was a Roman symbol of death and terror. Jesus Christ transformed this symbol into a universal sign of God's love, hope and resurrection. Solar eclipse events are recorded in Roman mythology during the conception of Romulus and Remus by the war god Mars and during the foundation of the city of Rome. The solar eclipse to the Romans was a sign from their gods that war was upon the Earth. The solar eclipse symbol of the star/pellet within the crescent on Roman coins and legionary standards was also a sign of their god's approval of Roman domination over conquered lands. Fifteen hundred years later, the "Our Lady of Guadalupe" Icon was presented to the New World as an inverted Roman Legionary Standard. Jesus Christ changed these symbols of Roman domination and slavery into an everlasting sign of God's love and compassion. 

bottom of page