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May
21, 2007 
VOL.
45, NO. 10Oakland,
CA
Archaeologists say they’ve found King Herod’s tomb
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| The grave site of King Herod the Great is seen during
excavations at Herodium, the former fortress and palace of King Herod. CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM |
HERODIUM,
West Bank (CNS) -- After three and a half decades of scouring this dusty,
heat-scorched mountainside, Israeli archaeologists said they have finally
found the elusive tomb of King Herod the Great.
The location and unique nature of the finds as well as the historical
record leave no doubt that the finds are the remains of the king’s
burial site, despite there being no inscriptions, said Ehud Netzer, the
Hebrew University professor of archaeology who has led the excavations
at Herodium since 1972.
The dig uncovered the various buildings at the towering cone-shaped site
which King Herod, who ruled Judea on behalf of Rome from 37 B.C. to 4
B.C., had constructed.
Only one or two other sarcophagi of this monumental size and quality have
been discovered, he said.
“Not every rich Jewish citizen of the time could afford a sarcophagus
like this,” he said. “It is really a royal one. The stone
work is very different. It is really an important, well-executed monument.
It is a great satisfaction (to have found it.) I am not sure I myself
have fully digested it yet.”
Because of ancient texts, archaeologists have long known where King Herod
was buried, but they had been unsuccessful until now in their search for
the actual mausoleum.
Over the past three years a team lead by Netzer began circling in on an
area on the northeastern slope of the hillside which the ancient king,
well-known for his architectural feats, had constructed some nine miles
south of Jerusalem in commemoration of a military victory. The palace
complex he built at the summit was said to be among the most spectacular
of his building projects, and it was here that he chose to have his remains
buried.
Dominican Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor of the French Biblical and
Archaeological School of Jerusalem called the discovery “really
important” and congratulated Netzer for his perseverance in his
search for the tomb.
“It is wonderful to have found pieces of the sarcophagus. (Ancient
Jewish historian) Josephus Flavius is perfectly clear that Herod was buried
there,” said Father Murphy-O’Connor, noting that it would
not surprise him if no inscription was found because of the ancient custom
of blotting out any mention of a reviled leader such as King Herod.
Jews of the period despised the ruler as an instrument of the Roman Empire.
“Herod was detested by everyone,” said Father Murphy-O’Connor.
“He was hated by everyone because his rule was very strict, and
there was an erosion of civil liberties, although there was economic growth.”
Riddled with disease and on his death bed in Jericho, King Herod collected
all the nobility of the city and gave the order that they be killed upon
his death so that “Judea would weep,” said Father Murphy-O’Connor.
But in addition to his numerous edicts, which included the killing of
three of his sons and one of his wives, King Herod was also renowned for
magnificent building projects. Archaeologists believe Herodium to be the
most outstanding among the king’s projects.
Herodium is surrounded by Arab villages, with Bethlehem in view just on
the horizon, and the Israeli excavation at the site was interrupted several
times since 1980 because of violence associated with the first and second
Palestinian uprisings. Toward the end of 2005, the dig was renewed after
a five-year break.
