Top archaeologists condemn Israeli plan to rebuild ancient tomb
The plan, promoted by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Gush Etzion Regional Council, includes rebuilding the tomb of Herod the Great in West Bank.
By Nir Hasson Tags: West Bank Jerusalem Israel archeologyAn unusual plan to rebuild the tomb of Herod the Great at the Herodium site, southeast of Jerusalem, has spurred opposition on the part of top archaeologists.
The plan, which is being promoted by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Gush Etzion Regional Council, includes building a lavish mausoleum in its original size out of light plastic material, and turning it into a visitor’s center. The plan is the first of its kind in the realm of Israeli archaeological digs, as most sites consist of either miniaturized or renovated historical sites that use the original materials found at the site.
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The model of Herod's tomb which was placed at the site last week. |
| Photo by: Israel Nature and Parks Authority |
Herod’s grave was discovered approximately five years ago by the archaeologist Ehud Netzer, who died two years ago as a result of a fall at the site. Before his death, Netzer was able to recreate the tomb, which reached a height of 25 meters and prided itself on having a cone-shaped roof. A model of the structure, which reached a height of 4 meters, was built at a cost of NIS 50,000 and was placed at the site last week, “It’s crazy - Archaeology is not Disneyland,” said one top archaeologist who asked to remain anonymous, “you don’t take an archaeological site and make a joke out of it.” Professor Haim Goldfus, the head of the archaeology department at Ben Gurion University, added that “the Herodium is impressive on its own, and the new structure will only distract from the real thing. A public committee should be established to decide on such a move.”
Professor Gideon Foerster, who managed the Herodium digs alongside Netzer, stated that the sketch of the plan based on the findings has yet to be completed. Archaeologists doubt the certainty of the tomb’s location and of the sketch of the structure that was built atop it. Shaul Goldstein, head of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, is trying to convince the archaeologists that erecting the structure in its original size will not harm the original findings.
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Frescos discovered in the Herodium complex, south of Jerusalem, Sept. 21, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
Goldstein, who was recently appointed to the position, began promoting the project when he still served as the head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council as the head of the Herodium project’s steering committee. He was able to receive funding for the project from the Ministry of Tourism and from the country’s National Heritage Sites organization. Goldstein rejected the archaeologists’ criticism out of hand, saying “Disneyland attracts 50,000 people every day” and that he was opposed to the distortion of history but supports “the approach to renovate the place and leave space for imagination.” Goldstein also suggested filling the pool under the Herodium with water, so that people will be able to fully understand “Herod’s wealth and the power of the period.”
Herod the Great ruled over the Judean Kingdom in the first century BC, and died in 4 AD. He was responsible for rebuilding the Second Temple, as well as building Caesarea and Masada.
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King Herod the Great (died in 4 BC) was not the ruler or monarch of "the West Bank" . Since the term WB was coined by the Hashemites ( and their aspirations over it were terminated in 1988 ) , the term Judea is much more appropriate.
These are Israeli institutes, Israeli archeologists and israeli project developers discussing what to do with Palestinian possessions in occupied Palestinian terrotory. It only proves the perversion of occupation, whether or not to put a giant plastic fake tomb on some one elses land. The only reason that they CAN have this debate is because their brothers and sons are patrolling the streets of Palestine with guns, tanks and mortars. By the way, Herodes was NOT Jewish, nor did he ever show any respect for the Jewish citizens of his country. Why then this fuss? Because making an archeological Disneyland out of it would give a nice excuse for the state to make it stay part of Israel after peace with Palestine. Ergo, just another landgrab ploy. Yak!
"A.D.," anno domini, means "year of the Lord," i.e., Jesus of Nazareth. Even many non-Jews now use the expression "C.E.," common era, in order not to offend non-Christians. Moreover--as the Hebrew article correctly states--Herod the Great died in 4 B.C.E.--BEFORE the common era.
The majority of scholarly opinion is unconvinced that the late Professor Netzer found Herod's tomb and believes that the reconstruction presented is no more than hypothetical. The proposed reconstruction is therefore quite preposterous.
Have the ruins of a tomb that belonged to one of the most famous kings of Judea and its a ruin and its not important enough for most politicians to want to hold onto in negotiations. Now if this is the tomb of a famous Jewish king and there is a visitors center and all its suddenly high profile and becomes something for Israel to want to hold onto. At the same time it serves the purpose of education if there is a visitor center.