CHAPTER 11. How Herod, By Permission From Caesar Accused His Sons Before
An Assembly Of Judges At Berytus; And What Tero Suffered For Using A
Boundless And Military Liberty Of Speech. Concerning Also The Death Of
The Young Men And Their Burial At Alexandrium.

So Caesar was now reconciled to Herod, and wrote thus to him: That he
was grieved for him on account of his sons; and that in case they had
been guilty of any profane and insolent crimes against him, it would
behoove him to punish them as parricides, for which he gave him power
accordingly; but if they had only contrived to fly away, he would have
him give them an admonition, and not proceed to extremity with them. He
also advised him to get an assembly together, and to appoint some place
near Berytus, [14] which is a city belonging to the Romans, and to take
the presidents of Syria, and Archelaus king of Cappadocia, and as many
more as he thought to be illustrious for their friendship to him, and
the dignities they were in, and determine what should be done by their
approbation. These were the directions that Caesar gave him. Accordingly
Herod, when the letter was brought to him, was immediately very glad
of Caesar's reconciliation to him, and very glad also that he had a
complete authority given him over his sons. And it strangely came about,
that whereas before, in his adversity, though he had indeed showed
himself severe, yet had he not been very rash nor hasty in procuring the
destruction of his sons; he now, in his prosperity, took advantage of
this change for the better, and the freedom he now had, to exercise his
hatred against them after an unheard of manner; he therefore sent and
called as many as he thought fit to this assembly, excepting Archclaus;
for as for him, he either hated him, so that he would not invite him, or
he thought he would be an obstacle to his designs.

2. When the presidents, and the rest that belonged to the cities, were
come to Berytus, he kept his sons in a certain village belonging to
Sidon, called Platana, but near to this city, that if they were called,
he might produce them, for he did not think fit to bring them before the
assembly: and when there were one hundred and fifty assessors present,
Herod came by himself alone, and accused his sons, and that in such a
way as if it were not a melancholy accusation, and not made but out of
necessity, and upon the misfortunes he was under; indeed, in such a way
as was very indecent