Phasael (died 40 BCE;Hebrew:פַצָאֵל,romanized: Faṣā'ēl,[1];Latin:Phasaelus; fromGreek:Φασάηλος,romanized: Phasaelos), was a prince from theHerodian Dynasty ofJudea.
Phasael was born in theHasmonean Kingdom to aJewish aristocratic family ofEdomite descent. His father,Antipater the Idumaean, was the close advisor of theHasmonean kingHyrcanus II, and his mother Cypros was aNabatean princess. Phasael was the elder brother ofHerod.
Both Phasael and Herod began their careers under their father, Antipater, who was appointedprocurator of Judea for theRoman Republic byJulius Caesar. Antipater appointed Phasael to be governor of Jerusalem, and Herod governor of Galilee.[2] When Phasael's brotherHerod was summoned to be tried by theSanhedrin he meant to come to Jerusalem with an army and make war, however Antipater and Phasael managed to convince him to be satisfied with making threats of force.
WhileMark Antony was inBithynia about 41 BCE, accusations were brought before him against the two brothers, who were objects of hatred to many Jews, but the shrewd Herod succeeded in obtaining the dismissal of the charges.[3] It was impossible, however, for theSanhedrin to rest content with the administrations of Herod and Phasael; and charges were again brought against them before Antony atAntioch. Once more the accusations proved to be fruitless, for even the weak Hyrcanus II pleaded for them. This led Antony to appoint the pairtetrarchs.[4]
Meanwhile,Antigonus the Hasmonean endeavored to seize the Jewish throne; and inJerusalem there were frequent conflicts between his retainers and those of the two brothers, which were especially perilous on the Jewish Feast ofShavuot. Phasael defended the walls, and Herod the palace, thus routing their antagonists, whereupon Antigonus invoked the aid of theParthian Empire. In spite of Herod's warning, Phasael allowed himself to be lured with Hyrcanus to the camp of the Parthian leaderBarzapharnes under the pretext of peace talks. Both Hyrcanus and Phasael were imprisoned.[5] They were then handed over to Antigonus, who caused Hyrcanus to bemutilated, a disgrace which Phasael escaped bydashing out his own brains, having the satisfaction of knowing before he died that his brother Herod had escaped from Jerusalem and was safe.[6]
Josephus speaks of Phasael as a brave and noble man. His son, who likewise bore the name Phasael, and seems to have been posthumous, married Herod's daughterSalampsio, by whom he had five children.[7] The son of Herod by his concubine, Pallas, was called Phasael by Herod, who likewise honored his brother's memory by naming a city northeast of Jericho "Phasaelis," and a tower of his palace at Jerusalem "Phasaelus."
There are three princes by the name Phasael in the Herodian dynasty, all three mentioned by Josephus in "War" (BJ) and "Antiquities" (AJ):[8]
| Antipater the Idumaean procurator of Judea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.Doris 2.Mariamne I 3.Mariamne II 4.Malthace | Herod I the Great king of Judea | 5.Cleopatra of Jerusalem 6.Pallas 7.Phaidra 8.Elpis | Phasael governor of Jerusalem | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1)Antipater heir of Judaea | (2)Alexander I prince of Judea | (2)Aristobulus IV prince of Judea | (3)Herod II Philip prince of Judea | (4)Herod Archelaus ethnarch of Judea, Idumea | (4)Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilea & Perea | (5)Philip the Tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tigranes V of Armenia | Alexander II prince of Judea | Herod Agrippa I king of Judea | Herod V ruler of Chalcis | Aristobulus Minor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tigranes VI of Armenia | Herod Agrippa II king of Judea | Aristobulus ruler of Chalcis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaius Julius Alexander ruler of Cilicia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaius Julius Agrippa quaestor of Asia | Gaius Julius Alexander Berenicianus proconsul of Asia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lucius Julius Gainius Fabius Agrippa gymnasiarch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Gottheil, R.; Samuel Krauss (1901–1906)."Phasael". InSinger, Isidore; et al. (eds.).The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.