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Herod's Tomb Found in Herodium |
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Archeologist: King Herod's tomb
desecrated, but discovery 'high point'
By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Staff
The archeologist who located King Herod's
tomb at Herodium said Tuesday that the grave had been desecrated, apparently
shortly after his death, but called the discovery a "high point."
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced Monday night that it has
uncovered the grave and tomb of Herod, who ruled Judea for the Roman empire
from circa 37 BCE.
Professor Ehud Netzer of the university's Institute of Archaeology told
reporters Tuesday that the tomb was discovered when a team of researchers
found pieces of a limestone sarcophagus believed to belong to the ancient
king.
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Although there were no bones in the container, he said the sarcophagus'
location and ornate appearance indicated it was Herod's.
"It's a sarcophagus we don't just see anywhere," Netzer said. "It is
something very special."
Netzer led the team, though he said he was not on the site when the
sarcophagus was found.
He said the sarcophagus had been smashed into pieces, most likely by someone
seeking revenge on Herod during the great Jewish rebellion of 66-72 CE.
"The discovery of the grave is the high point in the excavation at the
site," said Netzer.
The professor, who is considered one of the leading experts on King Herod,
has conducted archeological digs at Herodium since 1972 in an attempt to
locate the grave and tomb.
The discovery solves one of Israel's greatest archeological mysteries.
The majority of researchers had believed that Herod was in fact buried at
Herodium, based on the writings of the ancient Jewish historian Flavius
Josephus, but multiple excavations at the site failed to locate the grave.
Netzer's successful dig focused on a different part of the site than
previous excavations, between the upper part of Herodium and the site's two
palaces.
Herodium, a fortified palace built by Herod some 12 kilometers south of
Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Romans in 71 CE.
Herod, whose father and grandfather converted to Judaism, was appointed
governor of Galilee at the age of 25 and was made "King of the Jews" by the
Roman senate in approximately 40 BCE. He remained king for around 34 years.
Herod, also known as Herod the Great, is credited with expanding the Second
Temple and building Caesarea, Masada, and many other monumental construction
projects. He died in the year 4 BCE in Jericho after a long illness.
Herod decided to construct his tomb at Herodium because the site played a
role in two dramatic events in his life. In the year 43 BCE, when Herod was
still governor of the Galilee, he was forced to flee Jerusalem along with
his family after his enemies the Parthians laid siege to the city.
His mother's chariot flipped over near Herodium, and Herod became hysterical
until he realized she was only lightly wounded. A short while later, the
Parthians caught up to Herod and his entourage, although Herod and his men
emerged victorious in the ensuing battle.
At Herodium, Herod built one of the largest monarchical complexes in the
Roman Empire, which served as a residential palace, a sanctuary, an
administrative center and a mausoleum. Herod first built an artificial
cone-shaped hill that could be seen from Jerusalem, on which he constructed
a fortified palace surrounded by watchtowers that he used solely in wartime.
At the base of the hill, he built an additional palace, which was the size
of a small town and known as "Lower Herodium." The palace included many
buildings, fancy gardens, pools, stables, and storage areas.
Herod spared no expense in an attempt to turn the site into a regional gem,
bringing water from Solomon's Pools and special soil to allow his gardens to
blossom in the heart of the desert.
Following Herod's death, his son and heir Archilaus continued to reside and
Herodium. After Judea became a Roman province, the site served as a center
for Roman prefects.
With the outbreak of the Great Revolt, Herodium was seized by the rebels,
but then handed over without resistance to the Romans following the fall of
Jerusalem in 70 CE.
Fifty years later, Herodium was also used by the rebels during the Bar
Kokhva revolt, but was abandoned thereafter.
In the 5th century CE, the site was settled by Byzantine monks, and then
served as a leper colony before being finally abandoned in the 7th century
CE.
The first archeological dig at the site, between the years 1956 and 1962,
was conducted by a Franciscan monk and revealed most of the currently-known
remains. Israel began excavations at the site in 1972, several years after
its capture during the Six-Day War
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