Mariam
Mariam is the Queen of Judea, and Herod's wife. She is the eponymous protagonist of the play, but is not the main character; that honor goes to Salome, Mariam's sister in law. Mariam is conflicted. When we first meet her she believes Herod to be dead, and feels both sadness and relief; sadness, because she does love him, but relief because she despises him for killing her close family. She is also aware that her mother hates him as well. The main source of conflict in her life is Salome, whom she is aware has always considered her a poor fit for her brother. Mariam is a tragic figure because it is only after her execution that her husband realizes he loves her and his anger lessens a little.
King Herod
Herod the Great is King of Judea and Mariam's husband. He secures his right to the throne by assassinating Mariam's brother and grandfather. At the start of the play we, like the characters we are watching, presume that he has been killed but when he returns it becomes apparent that everyone who has disobeyed his orders, believing him to be gone, is now frightened by his potential reactions. He is clearly a leader who leads with fear and not with encouragement or by inspiring his citizens. He is dictatorial but nonetheless easily duped by his sister, who manipulates him into ordering Mariam's execution. He is almost immediately remorseful and regrets ordering her death.
Salome
Salome is really the central character in the text. She is Herod's sister and Mariam's sister-in-law. She is manipulative, filled with hate, and aspires to be the puppeteer with the other characters her puppets that she can move and control any way that she wants. One of the constants in her life is the demands she places on her brother and it seems that on studying their relationship that the cruelty attributed to Herod is often at the behest of Salome. Salome is a hypocrite when it comes to passing judgement on the relationships of others - she disapproves of affairs unless she is having them herself. She is somewhat of a renaissance woman in that she is striving to break through the patriarchal society that prevents women from obtaining a divorce. She is the cause of Mariam's execution.
Constabarus
Constabarus is Salome's husband and she is planning to divorce him. Whilst she claims this is because he betrayed Herod by helping the sons of Barabus, it is really so that she can marry her lover. Constabarus is aware of this but because of his transgression in hiding the young men he has no bargaining chips when it comes to his wife. He is aware too of his wife's manipulative character and actually feels sorry for the man who is stealing her from him.
Pheroras
Pheroras is Herod and Salome's brother. He was obligated by Herod to wait for marriage until Herod's daughter came of age. However in the mistaken belief that Herod is now dead he marries his lover Graphina instead. There are considerable repercussions for this speedy marriage when Herod returns.
Graphina
Graphina is not particularly well-developed as a character; we know her merely as the lover and now wife of Pheroras, and of course the object of manipulation and hate for Salome.
Prince Silleus of Arabia
Silleus is Salome's lover and even Herod begins to pity him a little for this. He is handsome, bold and a good soldier, but "good" is the limit of his expertise. He challenges Constabarus to a duel for Salome's hand, but is dealt with easily by her husband, who feels sorry for him and believes him to be manipulated by Salome.
Alexandra
Alexandra is Mariam's mother and unlike her daughter has no conflicted thoughts about Herod; the news that he is missing and presumed dead fills her with joy. She hates him for murdering her husband and son, and also believes her daughter deserves a better man as a husband.
