From the Taking of Jerusalem by Antiochus Epiphanes to the Death of Herod the Great - Flavius Josephus

Chapter 26
How Eurycles Calumniated the Sons of Mariamne
1. Now a little afterward there came into Judea a man that was much
superior to Arehelaus's stratagems, who did not only overturn that
reconciliation that had been so wisely made with Alexander, but proved the
occasion of his ruin. He was a Lacedemonian, and his name was Eurycles.
He was so corrupt a man, that out of the desire of getting money, he chose to
live under a king, for Greece could not suffice his luxury. He presented
Herod with splendid gifts, as a bait which he laid in order to compass his
ends, and quickly received them back again manifold; yet did he esteem bare
gifts as nothing, unless he imbrued the kingdom in blood by his purchases.
Accordingly, he imposed upon the king by flattering him, and by talking
subtlely to him, as also by the lying encomiums which he made upon him;
for as he soon perceived Herod's blind side, so he said and did every thing
that might please him, and thereby became one of his most intimate friends;
for both the king and all that were about him had a great regard for this
Spartan, on account of his country. (2)
2. Now as soon as this fellow perceived the rotten parts of the family,
and what quarrels the brothers had one with another, and in what disposition
the father was towards each of them, he chose to take his lodging at the first
in the house of Antipater, but deluded Alexander with a pretense of
friendship to him, and falsely claimed to be an old acquaintance of
Archelaus; for which reason he was presently admitted into Alexander's
familiarity as a faithful friend. He also soon recommended himself to his
brother Aristobulus. And when he had thus made trial of these several
persons, he imposed upon one of them by one method, and upon another by
another. But he was principally hired by Antipater, and so betrayed
Alexander, and this by reproaching Antipater, because, while he was the
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