herod was born about 73–75 bc. he was the son of antipater the idumaean and his wife cyprus, the daughter of an arabian sheik. both herod's grandfather and his father were political officials in judea. both had close ties to the romans. when antipater came to the aid of julius caesar after the battle of pharsalus in 48 bc, caesar made antipater the governor of judea. in 47 bc antipater made his oldest son, phasael, the governor of jerusalem. he made herod governor of galilee. as governor, herod won favor with the romans by his dealing with hostile revolts. at the same time his actions were censured by the great sanhedrin.