January 14 83 BCE – 13 Shevat 3678
Roman statesman Marcus Antonius, better known as Mark Antony, was born. A close ally of generally pro-Jewish Julius Caesar, Mark Antony may have been responsible for Herod’s rise to power, actively suggesting he be appointed king of the Jews instead of rival Hasmonean candidates. Herod expressed his gratitude by renaming one of three towers dominating the Temple complex “Antonia.” Unfortunately, once Antony came under Cleopatra’s spell, he sided with the Egyptian queen in her attempts to claim swathes of Judea for her own.