The Institute of Jewish Studies invited scholars of the Roman Emperor and contemporary King of Judea to London in June 2005 to trade thoughts and findings on the period. All but two of the 21 presentations have been revised and included in these proceedings. Though some consideration is given to literature and other documents, much of the emphasis is on architecture, art, and archaeology. Among the topics are whether Romanization was a goal of the building policy of Herod, the coins of Herod the Great in the context of the Augustan empire, the architectural origins of Herod's Temple Mount, Herodian pottery, Herod as an example of client kings' armies under Augustine, and religion and the state in Herodian Judea and Augustinian Rome. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)