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Herod, the tyrannical king of Judea and usurper of the Hycranian dynasty, marries Miriam, the sister of the rightful heir to the throne, Prince David. Herod's beautiful but treacherous cousin Salome convinces him to bestow the powerful office of high priest on David in order to placate the Judeans, but later she secretly commissions Sejanus, who is in love with her, to drown the prince.  After Salome persuades Herod that Miriam is trying to kill him, the queen, too, loses her life.

John the Baptist enters Judea and publicly denounces Herod's court, whereupon Salome, her curiosity aroused, visits him in the desert and unsuccessfully attempts to seduce him.  During his imprisonment, the holy man again rejects her advances, and she vows to destroy him.

At Herod's birthday feast, Salome performs a sensuous dance and asks for John the Baptist's head as a reward.  As she kisses his lifeless lips, a fierce storm arises, and Herod, terrified, orders Salome's immediate execution.