Herod the Great was a king of Judea who ruled during the time of the Roman Empire. He is known for his ambitious building projects and his ruthless pursuit of power. Synonyms for Herod the Great include "Herod I" or "Herod Antipas," the latter being the name of his son who also ruled over parts of Judea. Some historians refer to him simply as "Herod" without the epithet "the Great." Regardless of the name used, Herod the Great is an important figure in the history of the Middle East and hislegacy can still be seen in the many structures he built, such as the Herodium and the Second Temple in Jerusalem.