Herodes And Regilla's Relationship

The marriage of Regilla and Herodes epitomized wealth, social class, prestige and status in Ancient Rome. Regilla was born into a wealthy family with high social connections, while her husband was a man of letter, who acquired a fortune upon the passing of his father, and well-connected in the imperial courts. Regilla’s lineage went back to prominent figures of Rome and Herodes traced his origin from “legendary kings, heroes and mythological figures of Athens.” By the time Herodes wedded Regilla he had already reached the pinnacle of his career, having served in the city of government and received an appointment from the imperial court. The arrangement of the marriage that bought these individuals together was unusual in ancient Rome given the status of Regilla’s family and having a daughter marry a foreigner from a conquered land. Although Herodes was born in Greece, he was a different type of foreign man, having spent most of his life in Rome and was part of the same social circle as Regilla’s family. Regilla’s family wealth might have been well below that of Herodes, but they were powerful among of the people of Rome. Herodes sought to integrate himself in such a class of

Thecircumstantial evidence surrounding the murder is scanty. Some evidence suggests that Herodes might have directed the murder out of fear that Regilla would give birth to another son whose intellectual capability might not have met his standards. On the other hand, Herodes needed another son whom he could groom to inherit his wealth and to continue his legacy. It is likely Regilla could have given birth to a great son, the heir Herodes had been looking for in his trophimoi. Further, it is plausible that Herodes conspired with his freedman to murder Regilla under the assumption she would give birth to another “inadequate