At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”  (Matthew 14:1-2)

Rocks and caves were particularly associated with Mary and Joseph because they suggested sanctuary, and because of certain metaphors used to describe the Holy Family. The Virgin Mary was considered to be 'a rock cleft not by human hand'. Christ, as the Son of God, was the 'mountain hewn out of the mountain not by human hand.'  (nationalgallery.org.uk)

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” (Mark 6:14–15)

Legendary tales of a childhood meeting between Jesus and his cousin Saint John the Baptist first became popular in the 14th century. It was claimed that when King Herod ordered the Massacre of the Innocents, the Holy Family fled to Egypt and on their way met Saint John, who also escaped the massacre.  (nationalgallery.org.uk)

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:16–18)

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (Matthew 14:3–4)

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises. (Romans 9:4)

Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. "Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end" (3 Nephi 15:4-5).

Leonardo once wrote that light and shade should blend 'without lines or borders in the manner of smoke', giving rise to the term sfumato, meaning 'seen as if through smoke'. The soft shadows around corners of the eyes and mouths make Leonardo's faces seem more alive because they leave a little to our imagination. (nationalgallery.org.uk)

So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled, yet he liked to listen to him. (Mark 6:19–20)

The first production was in Paris in 1896. Because the play depicted biblical characters it was banned in Britain and was not performed publicly there until 1931. (Wikipedia)

The dangerous seductress we know derives from a heady mix of the first century historian Josephus, who named her but does not connect her with John the Baptist, and the 19th-century playwright Oscar Wilde, who wrote a scandalous play based on the character that was banned in London in 1892. Salome has now become synonymous with striptease thanks to the “dance of the seven veils”, which has no biblical basis but originated in Wilde’s play. (shilohproject.blog)

The leading men of the city gathered to eat the delicacies of the king, bird tongue, gazelle meat, pomegranates, grapes, and the fanciest desserts. Everyone wore garlands on their heads and drank never-ending vessels of wine. Music filled the air and dancers leaped across the floor. Storytellers and poets amused the guests. (Kluane Spake)

In a society where it was considered improper for women to mix freely in male company, it may seem surprising that Salome should have performed in this manner. (Morna D. Hooker)

Since the narrative does not say who initiated Salome’s dance, it is possible Herod requested that Salome dance in return for a reward. If it was Herod’s request, it is likely to have been omitted from the narrative in order to prevent portraying Herod negatively. Since Maurice Casey argues that the role Salome filled, as dancer, is a role usually fulfilled by prostitutes or courtesans, Herod’s request would be omitted to avoid him appearing lecherous and perverse. (Aysha Winstanley Musa)

That Antipas would have young Salome dance at a men's party, shows an ambiguous desire for Salome. Did Herod Antipas have an incestuous desire for his step-daughter? We know that Antipas had a sordid life. (Kluane Spake)

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. (Mark 6:21–24)

Neither at things, nor at people should one look. Only in mirrors should one look, for mirrors do but show us masks. (Oscar Wilde, Salome)

Blaming the women for a man’s sin is as old as the Bible. (sojo.net)

This is evident in ancient texts such as Sirach and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which say, “When you see a good-looking woman, look the other way… men have been led astray by a woman’s beauty… Don’t sit down to eat with another man’s wife or join her for a drink. You may give in to the temptation of her charms and be destroyed by your passion. (sheffieldgenderhistory.hcommons.org)

Mark’s account states that Herod “protected” the Baptist from Herodias , indicating that it was not Herod’s wish to see the Baptist dead. Herod is thus presented positively. He is a protector and presented as an ally of John’s, whereas Herodias is narrated as having “a grudge” against the Baptist and being in direct opposition to him. (sheffieldgenderhistory.hcommons.org)

Flowers in paintings of the Virgin Mary also have a special significance. The clump of flowers at the bottom left of the painting are Star of Bethlehems, or heartsease - a symbol of purity and atonement. Palm leaves, seen behind the infant John's head, are an emblem of the Virgin Mary and a symbol of victory. (nationalgallery.org.uk)

The degree of influence that they had in the execution of John the Baptist, therefore, may have been deliberately constructed to convey the dangers of womanly influence and unorthodox behavior. It is more historically accurate to place a pragmatic, political responsibility on Antipas for John's execution. Despite this, his wife and stepdaughter have shouldered the blame for the first-century prophet's gruesome end. Why has the historicity been largely disregarded? (Jennifer Lassley Knight)

Despite Herod’s major role in the Baptist’s death, Herod is framed as a protector and reluctant murderer; he is absolved by the narrator. She is framed as a devious woman waiting for “the opportune time” to kill the Baptist, since he opposed her marriage to Herod. (sheffieldgenderhistory.hcommons.org)

The wheel is come full circle: I am here. (Shakespeare, King Lear)

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. (Matthew 14:5)

Despite the Baptist’s death being Herodias’s desire, which comes about due to her suggestion to Salome, the narrator frames the request as Salome’s. Salome is said to have “hurried in to the king with the request.” Her eagerness is clear although unexplained. (Aysha Winstanley Musa)

Herodias achieved retribution against John, one of the few instances of women exercising significant power in the Bible. The circumstances under which Herodias and Salome appear in the Christian Testament have consequently framed their portrait, which church tradition has preserved as an example of sinful, deviant, and heretical behavior. Like many women in the Bible, Herodias and Salome have fallen prey to androcentric symbolism of the heretical woman, a literary topos to justify male superiority. (Jennifer Lassley Knight)

It is now possible for the heretic to learn, and the Jew as well, what he ought to know already, the reason for the Jews' errors: for from the Jew the heretic has accepted guidance in this discussion, the blind borrowing from the blind, and has fallen into the same ditch... Let the heretic now give up borrowing poison from the Jew--the asp, as they say, from the viper. (Jennifer Lassley Knight)

The construction of Salome and her request coupled with Herodias’s behind the scenes manipulations and premeditated murder removes all innocence from the women. They are framed as manipulative murderers, working in unison, in opposition to the helpless men, Herod and John. (Aysha Winstanley Musa)

Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth. (Deuteronomy 23:23)

The similarities between the Esther story and the Baptist’s beheading, coupled with the fact that Herod does not have the power to fulfil his oath, indicates that Mark’s account is not historically true, but a constructed narrative. (Aysha Winstanley Musa)

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:6–12)

Therefore, by blaming Herodias and Salome, the Baptist’s death was reframed as Herodias’s vendetta and as a result, John’s death loses its potential political charge. (Aysha Winstanley Musa)

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. (Matthew 14:5)

Herod Antipas feared the growing influence of John the Baptist among the population and so he executed him Josephus wrote. The Bible, on the other hand, tells a far more elaborate tale, claiming that Herod Antipas had John the Baptist executed in exchange for a dance. (livescience.com)

Amazingly, a little less than three years later, Herod Antipas and Herodias go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover, on the very day that Jesus appeared before him accused of crimes. Herod asked Jesus to perform a miracle for his own amusement. Jesus refused. Then, Herod sent him back to Pilate, who had the authority to have Jesus crucified. (Kluane Spake)

After the murder of St John, the Baptist, Herod continued to govern for a certain time. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, later sent Jesus Christ to him, Whom he mocked. (Luke 23:7-12)

For centuries, poets, artists, and the songs have expanded the myth about how Salome was evil. Surprisingly, women in the Bible are often made out to be a seductress, a nymph, a temptress, or a seducer — even though there is no Biblical text to support any of these accusations.What we learn: Doing evil can sometimes improve our present status — but there are powerful eternal consequences. (Dr. Kluane Spake)

Controlling where people can stick their willies is something the Church (and most religions to be fair) have been obsessing for the past 2000 years, ans still are. Much more than the fairness of taxes (give to Caesar what is Caesar's). So I'm absolutely not surprised the Church liked this story. (yusso)