General Pompey the Great King Herod the Great
(No Relation)
The Roman Occupation of Jerusalem
In 63 BCE Roman forces, under the command of General Pompey the Great, conquered Jerusalem and adding the Jewish Kingdoms into the already vast Roman Empire. Then in 40 BCE, despite years of mounting tension, the Roman Senate appointed Herod the Great as King of the Jews.
In 37 BCE King Herod the Great defeats Antigonus II Mattathias, the last Hasmonian King who led the Jewish armies against the Romans. At this point, the Jewish nation has been fully dominated.
Into Pious Minds
The Kingdom of Jerusalem had always been a theocracy. Their laws were not of the world but of Grand Providence. High Priests would give directions according to the guidance provided to them by God. Therefore it was a great insult to the people of Judea for anyone, especially and the idolatrous Roman Empire, to entitle any man as "King of the Jews" (Remember that Jesus guy?).
So, in the eyes of his own citizens, King Herod was a living blasphemy. It also didn't help that he was ruthless and filled with contempt for his Jewish subjects. As a matter of fact, he was so hated that "The day of his death was marked in the Jewish calendar as a festival."[1]
Replacing Judea's governmental structure was not just an utterly detestable act against its citizens and God, it also greatly disrupted their lives and inherently took away a piece of their cultured identity.
"If you rob people of their identity, if you rob them of their democracy then all they are left with is nationalism and violence."
-- Nigel Farage [2]
"The value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose."
-- Richard Grant [3]
References:
[1] "HEROD I. (surnamed the Great)," Jewish Encyclopedia, Accessed 20 Feb 2012, http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7598-herod-i
[2] "Nigel Farage to European Parliament," Investment Watch Blog, Accsesed 20 Feb 2012, http://investmentwatchblog.com/nigel-farage-to-european-parliament-the-euro-game-is-up-just-who-the-hell-do-you-think-you-are-you-are-very-dangerous-people/#.T6O1y-tYt04
[3] "Self-Discovery," Quote Garden, Accessed 20 Feb 2012, http://www.quotegarden.com/self-discovery.html
[2] "Nigel Farage to European Parliament," Investment Watch Blog, Accsesed 20 Feb 2012, http://investmentwatchblog.com/nigel-farage-to-european-parliament-the-euro-game-is-up-just-who-the-hell-do-you-think-you-are-you-are-very-dangerous-people/#.T6O1y-tYt04
[3] "Self-Discovery," Quote Garden, Accessed 20 Feb 2012, http://www.quotegarden.com/self-discovery.html
Resources:
Banner Image Source 1: "Statue of Pompey the Great," Corbis Images, Accessed 5 Mar 2012, http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-IH015108.jpg?size=67&uid=b91cba38-5ca5-4b3f-a7ad-7f07a7ef651f
Banner Image Source 2: "Herod the Great Biography," My Classic Lyrics, Accessed 5 Mar 2012, http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/images/Herod_the_Great_Biography.jpg
Banner Image Source 2: "Herod the Great Biography," My Classic Lyrics, Accessed 5 Mar 2012, http://www.myclassiclyrics.com/artist_biographies/images/Herod_the_Great_Biography.jpg