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The Massacre (or Slaughter) of the Innocents is a biblical story recounted in the Nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children who are two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. "
Massacre of the Innocents - Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death.
Dec 26, 2012 · On Dec. 28, the Church commemorates the slaughter of the holy innocents. These are the baby boys in Bethlehem that Herod the Great had slaughtered in an attempt to kill the Baby Jesus.
The Massacre of the Innocents is the subject of two paintings by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the episode of the biblical Massacre of the Innocents of Bethlehem, as related in the Gospel of Matthew (2:13–18).
- Oil on Canvas, Flemish Baroque
Feast of the Holy Innocents, Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18). The feast is observed by Western churches on December 28 and in the Eastern churches on December 29.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Bruegel’s Massacre of the Innocents was a popular image, repeated numerous times by Bruegel’s imitators. The best versions (Brussels, Vienna. etc) are by the artist’s son, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and are of vital importance.
What is now thought to be the only version by Bruegel the Elder (c.1565-1567) is in the British Royal Collection; for some time held at Hampton Court Palace, by 2017 it was at Windsor Castle. Holy Roman Emperor Rudolph II ordered it overpainted to hide images of dead and dying children.
