It has long been believed that King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, was buried somewhere in Herodium, a flattened hilltop in Judean Desert. Herod built two palaces on it, and decades of excavations had revealed a lot them but the tomb. Now, the tomb is found in between the two palaces by Ehud Netzer, a Hebrew University professor.
Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Roman Empire in 40 BC. He built a wall around the old city Jerusalem which still stands, and he also ordered big construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Massada which was occupied by Jewish rebels after the Jewish revolt in the first century. The rebels defended themselves from a Roman army for months. When it appeared that the Romans would finally conquer the fortress, hundreds of rebels committed suicide rather than be taken as prisoners by the conquering Romans. Although this fort is not mentioned in the Bible, it does give insight into the Roman military methods as well as the life of King Herod and his construction.
Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and the fort was destroyed by the Roman army in AD 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
The 1st century historian Josephus Flavius described the tomb of King Herod who died in approximately 40 BC, and mentioned also about the funeral procession of the legendary king.
Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Roman Empire in 40 BC. He built a wall around the old city Jerusalem which still stands, and he also ordered big construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Massada which was occupied by Jewish rebels after the Jewish revolt in the first century. The rebels defended themselves from a Roman army for months. When it appeared that the Romans would finally conquer the fortress, hundreds of rebels committed suicide rather than be taken as prisoners by the conquering Romans. Although this fort is not mentioned in the Bible, it does give insight into the Roman military methods as well as the life of King Herod and his construction.
Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and the fort was destroyed by the Roman army in AD 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
The 1st century historian Josephus Flavius described the tomb of King Herod who died in approximately 40 BC, and mentioned also about the funeral procession of the legendary king.
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