Malthace is a Latinized form of the Greek name Μαλθάκη (Malthake), which derives from μαλθακός (malthakos) meaning "soft, tender." This etymology reflects a common practice in Ancient Greek onomastics of using adjectives denoting gentle qualities as personal names.
The most notable bearer of this name was Malthace, a Samaritan woman who lived in the 1st century BCE. She became one of the wives of Herod the Great, the king of Judea who appears in the New Testament for ordering the Massacre of the Innocents. Through Herod, Malthace was the mother of three children: Herod Antipas (who ruled Galilee during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus), Archelaus (the ethnarch of Judea), and a daughter named Olympias. Historical records indicate that Malthace died in 4 BCE in Rome, while her sons Archelaus and Antipas were disputing their father's will before the Roman emperor Augustus.
Variants and Forms
A direct variant of Malthace is Malthake, closer to the original Greek script. Both are relatively rare names outside of historical contexts, with almost no modern usage.
Cultural Significance
Malthace's name is preserved primarily through the writings of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who recorded the Herodian family tree. Her Samaritan origin is notable, as it reflects Herod's strategy of marital alliances with various ethnic groups within his kingdom. The name itself, however, has not entered common usage, largely due to the negative associations with the Herodian dynasty.
- Meaning: "soft, tender"
- Origin: Ancient Greek
- Type: Historical given name
- Usage: Ancient Greece and Judea (through marriage into Hadrian's family)
Variants
Sources: Wikipedia — Malthace