1. Thus spake Herod:
"Today is the 27th anniversary of the day Pompey sacked Jerusalem.... Why does it always seem for the Israelites that things keep happening on the same day as other things?.... I remember my father taking his horn of Arak, lying in his chair, hearing the thousands of Jerusalemite screams, and feeling as though muscles which had tensed in his body had finally relaxed that were tense for an entire lifetime. All of Israel wailed that day and recorded it the darkest in Jewish history, but records are made to be broken and so is Judea.
This latest Aristobulus is now in Kishle... after him there's only two Aristobuluses left and one Hyrcanus. I will send this 'latest' Aristobulous to Anthony, who will, against all custom, torture and behead him to the opprobrium of all Rome, who is somehow always shocked when they hear about the barbaric things their soldiers do abroad.... But Antony was always an animal. He loves the spurting of blood even more than the spurting of women. He will be blamed for the murder because he is supposed to be more virtuous than us brown barbarians, and my willingness to be instructed in Roman ways will stand me into the good grace of that beneficent Octavian, who fancies himself magister to his provinces just as Aristotle was tutor to Alexander."
2. The following is the minutes of Herod's first day as governor:
A. Herod summoned his personal treasurer, Ishmael, along with his son Ananel, and told them that the entirety of the old Sanhedrin property and treasure is about to be confiscated and the priestly coiffures replenished. Herod then asked, furtively, "How certain are you of your family's line of descent from Aaron?" "Absolute." "In spite of everyone calling you an Ishmaelite?" "Quite positive." "Do you have documentation?" "I..." "Anthony has a scribe in Tyre who can create any script to specification. You both will ride to Tyre and send this scribe instructions to recreate a calligraphy at the exact specifications I set, is this clear?" "Yes your grace." Dismissed.
B. Herod then received two elders who sit upon the Sanhedrin: Avtalyon and Shemaiah, whom he refers to as 'my only allies.' As gifts he presents them both with ornately jeweled knives as thanks for their efforts. Three Roman guards immediately appeared at the door, and Herod told his two allies that these men are the principales of an entire Roman centurion, all of whom will be present to help them in their task. Soldiers will be posted as posted at every exit of the Sanhedrin chamber as their captors, but also as witnesses. Roman soldiers will hold up every member of the Sanhedrin while Avtalayon and Shemaiah personally execute all 69 other members. They are then to appoint a new Sanhedrin entirely from amongst their family and friends. This new Sanhedrin is hereby ordered to institute a 10% tithe for every case heard, and Herod tells them that on the authority of his new high priest, Ananel, descended from priests in Babylon's makeshift Jewish temple, that all rulings which benefit the Sanhedrin are synonymous with rulings which benefit Judea. Dismissed.
C. It was time to permit a visit from Mariam. Mariam claimed she had a letter from Anthony, and it does have his imperial seal upon it. This letter from Antony "requested" that Mariam's younger brother, Aristobulus, be made High Priest. Mariam clearly expected Herod to be shocked, but Herod calmly let Mariam know that he had discussed this matter with Anthony at some length, and was planning on conferring High Priesthood on her brother the whole time. Herod summoned Aristobulus, embraced him as the High Priest and gave him all the insignia. Not dismissed.
3. The week of Aristobulus's investiture.
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