Macrobius (c. 400 CE), one of the last pagan writers in Rome, in his book "Saturnalia", wrote: “When it was heard that, as part of the slaughter of boys up to two years old, Herod, king of the Jews, had ordered his own son to be killed, he Emperor Augustus remarked, ‘It is better to be Herod’s pig hys than his son’ hyios”. This was a reference of how Herod, as a Jew, would not kill pigs, but had three of his sons, and many others, killed.