A Cappadocian

The Cappadocian briefly discusses the gods with other minor characters at the beginning of the play.

First Soldier

Together with the second soldier, he refuses to bring Jokanaan forth to see. At the end of the play, both obey Herod's orders to kill Salome.

Herod Antipas

Herod Antipas is the Tetrarch of Judaea. He is the husband of Herodias and the stepfather of Salome. He is a powerful man, able to decide which of his subjects will live and which will die. He displays a complicated mix of emotions cruelty, compassion, fear, and guilt. When the Young Syrian dies, Herod tells Herodias that the Syrian was the son of a king, and that Herod himself drove the Syrian's father from his kingdom and made his queen a slave. Yet, seemingly because of his feelings of guilt, Herod says he considered the Young Syrian a "guest" and made...