King Herod Ancient Tomb Found
If you're new here, you may want to sign up for email alerts or to subscribe to my RSS feed. Enjoy Life in the Fast Lane!
An Israeli archaeologist claims to have found the ancient tomb of King Herod, the ruler of Judea while it was under Roman administration in the first century BC.
Archaeologists believe this is the podium of Herod’s tomb.
After searching more than 30 years, Ehud Netzer of the Hebrew University says he has located the tomb at Herodium, a site south of Jerusalem.
Who was King Herod?
• Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BC
• A bloody ruler who killed political rivals
• Ordered the Massacre of Innocents to protect his throne, the New Testament says
• Behind ambitious building projects including expanding Second Jewish Temple and walls around Jerusalem
Told of Jesus’ birth, Herod ordered all children under 2 in Bethlehem be killed, according to the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus’ father Joseph was warned of the threat in a dream and fled with his wife Mary and child Jesus to Egypt.
Professor Netzer, who has worked at the Herodium site since 1972 said “When I realized it was the tomb there was great happiness. Everyone has an interest in the Holy Land and Herod’s tomb is part of that story.”
It was an ancient staircase built for Herod’s funeral procession that led Professor Netzer’s team to the hill-top burial site. “The monumental stairs were built specifically for the funeral.”
At the site, archaeologists found a smashed limestone sarcophagus that, when whole, would have been around 2.5 meters (8feet) long. Ornate rosette decorations on the fragments alerted the team to the coffin’s significance.
No bones were found at the site. Professor Netzer said that they had likely been removed by Jewish rebels who fought against Rome between 66 and 72 AD.
If the find is confirmed, this will rank as a major archaeological discovery, BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says.
Experts have always believed that Herod was buried somewhere within the palace complex he had constructed on a flattened hilltop in the Judean desert, but they had repeatedly struggled to find any evidence to back up their theories.
Herod was appointed ‘King of the Jews’ by the Roman authorities and ruled Judea from 37 BC until his death in around 4 BC. He is known for his expansion of the Second Jewish Temple and the construction of walls around the Old City of Jerusalem. He also built the fortress of Masada, which became the last stand of Jewish rebels in 73 AD.
Related stories:
Gladiators Graveyard Discovered
I am planning a trip out there next spring. The Holy Land is awesome.
I went to Jerusalem many years ago…amazing city and because my passport was stamped with entry into Israel I was unable to go to Egypt….great piece of history Deborah!!!
[...] Deborah « King Herod Ancient Tomb Found 5 Top Reasons I Blog – Not About Meeeee May 11th, 2007 under Offbeat [...]
Dave, I’m envious — it sounds like you’ve been there before.
Kim, you lucky dawg to be able to see Jerusalem! I’m confused…since your passport was stamped in Isreal they wouldn’t allow you into Egypt? I would absolutely LOVE to go to Egypt. I’ve never been outside of the North American continent.