Ahaz was a king of Judah who reigned from around 735 to 715 BCE. He is known for his unfaithfulness to the God of Israel and for adopting pagan practices. His reign was marked by political turmoil, including threats from neighboring kingdoms like Israel and Syria. To secure his throne, Ahaz sought help from the powerful Assyrian Empire, leading to increased foreign influence in Judah. He is also noted for building an altar in the temple based on a design he saw in Damascus, which further distanced Judah from its traditional worship practices.