Mariam is the beautiful, pure-blooded Queen of Judea and the second wife of King Herod. She struggles with intense emotional conflict, torn between the societal expectation to mourn her husband and her deep-seated anger over his murder of her brother and grandfather. Unlike the scheming members of the royal court, she refuses to feign affection or hide her true feelings. Her strict adherence to honesty and her pride in her royal lineage quickly place her in severe danger as court factions vie for power.

Herod is the volatile King of Judea. Born an Edomite, he married into Jewish royalty to solidify his claim to the throne, ruthlessly executing rivals along the way. While rumors of his execution in Rome dominate the early events of the court, his presence continually influences the actions of those left behind. He harbors an intense, possessive passion for Mariam but demands absolute obedience and quickly turns to rage when challenged.

Salome is Herod's cunning and self-serving sister. Unconstrained by the moral expectations of her society, she views her brother's rumored death as a strategic opportunity to discard her current husband and marry an Arabian prince. She operates with cold calculation, eagerly gathering compromising information to weaponize against her enemies at court. Her primary target is her sister-in-law, whom she despises for her haughty attitude and pure-blooded lineage.

Constabarus is Salome's husband and a dedicated follower of Jewish law and tradition. He expects strict adherence to patriarchal norms, putting him in constant, bitter conflict with his rebellious wife. Despite his rigid traditionalism, he possesses a strong sense of personal honor, having secretly sheltered two political fugitives from the king's execution orders for over a decade at immense personal risk.

Alexandra is Mariam's mother and a proud descendant of true Jewish royalty. She harbors an intense, unyielding hatred for the king, who murdered her father and son to secure his grip on power. Highly pragmatic and politically minded, she is deeply frustrated by her daughter's conflicted feelings, viewing any sympathy for their oppressor as a profound betrayal of their family's bloodline.

Pheroras is the brother of Herod and Salome. Unlike his highly political and ruthless siblings, his primary motivation is romantic love. He uses the power vacuum created by the rumors of the king's execution to defy royal orders, choosing to marry a woman of common birth rather than his infant niece. He easily falls prey to his sister's manipulation in his desperate bid to protect his new bride.

Nuntio is a royal messenger burdened with the terrifying task of delivering grim news to an unstable monarch. He acts as an objective observer of the court's tragic events, maintaining his composure while dealing with volatile personalities and graphic reports.

Doris is the king's first wife, a native of Jerusalem who was unceremoniously divorced and exiled nine years prior so her husband could marry into a higher royal bloodline. Believing the king is dead, she sneaks back into the city to fight for her son's right to the throne. She holds immense bitterness toward her successor and actively prays for the destruction of the new queen's children.

Antipater is the eldest son of the king, born to his first wife. Raised in exile, he shares his mother's deep resentment of their banishment. He demonstrates a ruthless, bloodthirsty pragmatism, showing no grief over his father's rumored death as he plots to clear his own path to the throne.

Silleus is an Arabian prince deeply infatuated with a married woman of the Judean court. He is entirely devoted to her, willing to surrender his lands and risk physical danger to support her unprecedented plan to seek a divorce.

Graphina is a servant girl of lower social standing who unexpectedly finds herself married to a prince. She is cautious and intelligent, choosing her words carefully to avoid overstepping her sudden elevation in status.

The First Son of Babus is a political fugitive who has spent twelve years in hiding to escape a royal execution order. Even when presented with rumors of the king's death, he remains wary and fears stepping out into the open.

The Second Son of Babus is a long-hidden fugitive who understands the capriciousness of rulers, having spent time observing power dynamics in Rome. He realistically assesses the lingering danger they face even amid rumors of the king's demise.

Annanell serves as the High Priest of Jerusalem. He acts as the bearer of unexpected tidings that instantly upend the assumptions and active plots of the royal family.

Sohemus is a trusted counselor to the king who is burdened with executing a dark contingency plan should the monarch die in Rome. He deeply admires the queen's purity and attempts to advise her to temper her pride to survive the dangerous political climate.

The Butler is a servant manipulated into participating in a deadly scheme against the queen. He follows his instructions to deliver false accusations to the king, but struggles immensely with the weight of his actions once he realizes the cost of slandering an innocent person.

The Chorus is a company of Jewish observers who provide philosophical commentary at the conclusion of each act. They interpret the actions of the main characters, warning against unbridled speech, the futility of revenge, and the fickle nature of fortune.