Millennial prophet who got incorporated into the Christian mythos as the “voice crying in the wilderness” who predicted the Christ and recognized Jesus as such when he came to be baptized. John had his own followers, some of whom continued to believe in him. An ascetic desert mystic, wore animal skins and lived on grasshoppers and honey. Imprisoned by Herod whose wife egged on her daughter Salome to tantalize the king by dancing and then demand John’s head as a reward, served up on a platter.