The Massacre of the Innocents
The Massacre of the Innocents is an episode connected with the birth
of Jesus. (Matthew 2:16-17).
Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of Herod the
Great. On hearing the news that a new king of Jews had been born in Judaea,
which corresponded to the old prophecies, Herod first tried to find the
child. He asked the wisemen from the Orient (see
Adoration
of the Magi) to report to him about the child, but when they left Judaea
without notifying him, Herod, in his attempt to get rid of the infant Christ,
"gave orders for the massacre of all the boys aged two years and under
in Bethlehem and throughout the whole district". (Matthew 2:16).
See:
Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The
Massacre of the Innocents.
Duccio di Buoninsegna. Maestà:
The
Massacre of the Innocents.
Giotto. The
Massacre of the Innocents.