King Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BCE to 4 BCE. He is known for his ambitious building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, which became a significant religious site for the Jewish people. Herod's reign was marked by political intrigue and efforts to maintain power amid various challenges. Herod is also infamously remembered for the Massacre of the Innocents, an event described in the New Testament where he ordered the execution of male infants in Bethlehem to eliminate the threat posed by the newborn Jesus. His rule was characterized by both grand achievements and brutal tactics to secure his throne.