Herod Antipas-----Question----Please help...

[A Christian]

I have been asked to be in a play in which I will play Herod Antipas. My problem is I have a beard and am being asked to shave for the part. I really have no problem with that except I
will be in another play as James the Lesser and he has a beard.
I really dread shaving and then wearing a fake beard in the following play.
For those who do not know, Herod Antipas was the son of Herod
the Great. Antipas saw Jesus before his crucifixion and also had
John the Baptist beheaded.
The reason that is being used is that Antipas was half Jew and
likely followed Roman customs. I am not sure of this myself---
can anyone offer some insight... Thanks!

 

[ZiSunka]

Hmm, that's a tough one!

It could be that he affliated himself more with the Romans, since they are the ones who let him be in power, in which case he likely shaved, but it could also be that the Jews wouldn't follow him unless he followed their ways, in which case he would have had a beard.

Have you read Josephus's account of Herod? I'm think he had a section on the Herods, and he might give you better clues about where he stood about following Roman or Jewish culture.

 

[A Christian]

Thanks, I had hoped that perhaps someone has seen his statue or a bust of him. He did seem to hear John the Baptist....
It seems some Romans wore beards. I'm just looking for some
support for keeping my beard and not just shave it off for someones whim...