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 Herod makes headlines as tomb found in Judean Desert
| By Brenda Gazzar and Dan Baron | Published: 05/08/2007 |
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Ruthlessly lavish in his lifetime and a villain of Jewish and Christian narratives alike, the biblical King Herod has captured the world's imagination anew with the discovery of his tomb outside Jerusalem.
Hebrew University archeologists on Tuesday announced the find of the first-century BCE monarch's grave, sarcophagus and mausoleum at the Herodium ruins in the Judean Desert after more than three decades of digging.
"This is the only site that carries his name and the site where he chose to be buried and to memorialize himself -- all of this with the integration of a huge, unique palace at the fringe of the desert," team leader Professor Ehud Netzer said. "Therefore the unearthing of his tomb marks the climax of research at this site."
No human remains were among the relics, possibly due to grave robbers or what the university described as "nationalist vandalism" in ancient Judea. It said the sarcophagus and mausoleum had suffered extensive damage, apparently by Jewish zealots who waged a revolt against Roman occupiers in 66-72 C.E.
"The rebels were known for their hatred of Herod and all that he stood for as a 'puppet ruler' for the Romans," the university said in a statement.
Herod, a convert to Judaism whom the Romans appointed king of Judea, was considered a great builder and administrator who dramatically expanded and renovated the Second Temple, refurbished the fortress at Masada, rebuilt water supplies for Jerusalem, and built the cities of Caesarea and Herodium.
He also is remembered as a ruthless ruler who did not hesitate to eliminate potential rivals, including one of his many wives and two of his children.
Herod's outsized ego has an especially grim resonance for Christians: The New Testament records that upon hearing that a new messiah, or "King of the Jews," would be born in Bethlehem, Herod ordered the slaughter of the town's male children.
Jesus survived, according to the Christian narrative, because his parents escaped to Egypt.
Herodium, which included a huge palace at the edge of the desert near Bethlehem, is where the king chose to be buried and memorialized.
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