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Herodium is located some 12 kilometers from Jerusalem. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site)
Last update - 16:11 08/05/2007
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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  1.   Herod found in a grave situation 22:55  |  MichaelF 07/05/07
  2.   INCREDIBLE FIND 23:11  |  Dror 07/05/07
  3.   Wow guess that story told at the UN is true 23:13  |  Kinishin 07/05/07
  4.   One of these christian oddnesses 23:20  |  christoph 07/05/07
  5.   Olmert`s Response to the Discovery of Herod`s Tomb 23:21  |  Richter 07/05/07
  6.   Who is right? 23:21  |  Chick Corea 07/05/07
  7.   Finally, A Candidate! 23:21  |  Dyinglikeflies 07/05/07
  8.   Antisemites say Jews killed Jesus-then say Jews never lived in IL 23:42  |  Alan SA 07/05/07
  9.   I am always amused by the use of BCE and CE 23:49  |  Amos 07/05/07
  10.   King Herod`s Tomb 00:06  |  Paul Gene Tweed 08/05/07
  11.   Herod`s tomb and grave found at Herodium 00:45  |  Israel 4ever 08/05/07
  12.   Herod the blood thirsty king 00:59  |  fady egypt 08/05/07
  13.   #2 Paul Gene Tweed 01:04  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/05/07
  14.   Herod must have been a Palestinian King...Or did not exist 01:08  |  Michigan 08/05/07
  15.   Herod REBUILT, not just expanded, 2nd temple 01:20  |  Jake 08/05/07
  16.   This will probably encourage the Wafq 01:31  |  Chick Corea 08/05/07
  17.   WOW, sure glad this land is part of Israel. 01:43  |  Virginia 08/05/07
  18.   Woh I was just reading a book about him today it said 02:02  |  Melinda Lehan 08/05/07
  19.   Awesome! 02:02  |  Gina 08/05/07
  20.   I wonder if there was any connection with Jewish scholar Flavius 02:04  |  Really Curious 08/05/07
  21.   Journalists Without Restraint 02:05  |  PalliesRock 08/05/07
  22.   Re: Finally, A Candidate! 02:17  |  Mark 08/05/07
  23.   British Academics 02:19  |  Peter 08/05/07
  24.   Re:12 02:20  |  Paul Gene Tweed 08/05/07
  25.   No mention of Jesus; not surpised 02:21  |  detroit 08/05/07
  26.   Herod`s tomb 02:25  |  Marilyn 08/05/07
  27.   # 9 - Amos 02:45  |  michael 08/05/07
  28.   to: Amos re BCE/CE vs BC/AD 02:47  |  LinkMan 08/05/07
  29.   Chick Corea #16 02:57  |  Danite 08/05/07
  30.   odnesses 02:57  |  David 08/05/07
  31.   the use of BCE and CE 03:05  |  Dennis Cambly 08/05/07
  32.   HEROD was a Roman satrap appointed by Marc Antony 03:17  |  sara 08/05/07
  33.   Re: One of these christian oddnesses 03:24  |  ts 08/05/07
  34.   16 Chick Corea the reverse is probably true,since Israel 03:34  |  Alan 08/05/07
  35.   Jake 03:43  |  Gina 08/05/07
  36.   to # 3 a great one lol 03:45  |  Simon Mohammed 08/05/07
  37.   Arabs-Muslims-Herod`s Tomb 03:46  |  Yisrael4Ever 08/05/07
  38.   Michigan 03:51  |  Gina 08/05/07
  39.   I`m wondering the same as #4 03:51  |  D 08/05/07
  40.   The Big Question 03:55  |  Sven 08/05/07
  41.   lets not forget what Herod did in Bethlehem and 03:56  |  true believer 08/05/07
  42.   # 22 Mark 03:58  |  Jim 08/05/07
  43.   Congratulations, Hebrew University! 04:08  |  Jeff Northridge 08/05/07
  44.   Have They Discovered Arafat`s Tomb Yet? 04:12  |  Yosemite 08/05/07
  45.   Revelation 04:15  |  Harry D 08/05/07
  46.   Tell us more! 04:15  |  Jim 08/05/07
  47.   Melinda 04:20  |  Harry D 08/05/07
  48.   #9 Amos 04:26  |  Jim 08/05/07
  49.   Herod`s Death 04:29  |  Mike 08/05/07
  50.   Herod`s tomb discovered 04:39  |  abeernink 08/05/07
  51.   For Amos.... 04:39  |  Dov 08/05/07
  52.   I wonder if there was any connection with Jewish scholar Flavius 04:50  |  Mark Lincoln 08/05/07
  53.   17# Virgina. Great news. Allow me to add: 04:54  |  Akram Zekaria 08/05/07
  54.   Great find! 05:00  |  LF 08/05/07
  55.   Herod`s Grave Site 05:07  |  Don Williams 08/05/07
  56.   Is this the same Herod... 05:23  |  Moshe 08/05/07
  57.   Herod`s tomb 05:29  |  Denise 08/05/07
  58.   Herod 05:32  |  Glen 08/05/07
  59.   Grave Desecration 05:35  |  Marc 08/05/07
  60.   34 DON W. they don`t have to make up any stories,Biblical or 05:38  |  sara 08/05/07
  61.   to #3 Kinishin 05:47  |  Sean 08/05/07
  62.   to #32 akram 05:55  |  sean 08/05/07
  63.   BC and AD?? 05:56  |  Linda 08/05/07
  64.   King Herod`s tomb 05:56  |  Eugenia 08/05/07
  65.   #33 05:57  |  Edwin 08/05/07
  66.   33LF Herod called himself a Jew, King Of Judea 05:59  |  Michigan 08/05/07
  67.   Good! 06:08  |  Eugene 08/05/07
  68.   Yosemite 06:14  |  Connie 08/05/07
  69.   Congratulation, Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the State of 06:18  |  Roberto 08/05/07
  70.   Herod 06:34  |  jb 08/05/07
  71.   re: Who Is Right 06:36  |  Pam 08/05/07