New Discoveries at Herodium

January 20, 2009

The Herodian fortress near Bethlehem In May of 2007, Netzer announced that he had discovered the tomb of King Herod at the Herodium site. Herod was the Roman-appointed king of Judea from 37 to 4 BC, who was renowned for his many monumental building projects, including the reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the fortress palace at Masada, and the Herodium, the most outstanding among King Herod’s building projects. This is the only site that carries his name, and the site where he chose to be buried and to memorialize himself―all of this with the integration of a huge, unique palace at the fringe of the desert.

Neither of the sarcophagi, nor pieces of the one discovered last year, had any inscriptions or names on them, so it was impossible to tell for sure which one belonged to King Herod. However, the condition of each of the sarcophagi could provide a clue to archaeologists. The two newly discovered ones seemed, according to Netzer, to have been pushed out down the hill from inside the still standing mausoleum building. The previously discovered red-limestone sarcophagus, on the other hand, was smashed into hundreds of pieces. “There is no doubt,” Netzer said, “that the mausoleum was deliberately destroyed during the First Jewish Revolt [AD 63–70].” Netzer, therefore, believes the red-limestone sarcophagus to be that of King Herod.

On the basis of a study of the architectural elements uncovered at the site, researchers have been able to determine that the mausoleum, among the remains of which Herod’s sarcophagus was found, was a lavish two-story structure with a concave-conical roof, about 25 meters (82 feet) high―a structure fully appropriate to Herod’s status and taste. The excavations there have also yielded many fragments of two additional sarcophagi, which researchers estimate to have been members of Herod’s family. The mausoleum measured some 10 x 10 meters (33 x 33 feet) at the base and was surrounded by several levels of terraced gardens.

However, Netzer said that the real surprise of the excavations was the discovery of a theater just 20 meters (65 feet) west of the mausoleum. The theater was in a classic semicircular shape and was capable of seating some 650–750 spectators. At the top of the theater was a room that Netzer is calling the “royal box,” decorated with “outstanding wall pictures of animals and landscapes” the likes of which are only found in parts of Italy from the first century BC. These are not frescos, but rather painting over dry surface.

The theater and possibly other surrounding rooms and structures were “sacrificed” and covered over during the construction of the artificial hill and monumental stairway leading up to the hill. Netzer said that the mausoleum was purposely left exposed. A description of Herodium, as well as of Herod’s funeral procession there, can be found in the writings of the ancient Roman-era historian, Flavius Josephus.

By Will King, Correspondent, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio

Photo Credit: Isranet

Photo Credit: