Tomb of Herod the Great Found

Archaeologist Ehud Netzer, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Classical Archaeology at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Wikipedia), has found the tomb of Herod the Great at Herodium (Wikipedia) ending a 35-year search. You can view the site at Google Maps or Google Earth (HT: OpenBible.info).

Herod the Great, who ruled over Judaea from about 37 to 4 BC, is perhaps best known for his cruelty as described in the New Testament, but also for the grand ancient buildings he constructed in what is now Israel.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, he ordered the execution of all young male children in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn “King of the Jews”, the baby Jesus.

The jealous leader also executed his first wife Mariamne and three of his sons accused of conspiring against him.

One of his other sons, Herod Antipas who inherited half of the kingdom after his father’s death, is the one who ruled at the time of Jesus’ death and is said to be the one who executed John the Baptist.

But Herod the Great is also famed for his construction of the Second Jewish Biblical Temple, the Massada fortress and the ancient Roman town of Caesaria in what is now central Israel.

Much of his life is known through the 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

“The discovery is significant because first of all he is a well-known figure and also because of his proximity to the time of Jesus’ birth,” said Netzer.

Here is the press release: Tomb of King Herod discovered at Herodium by Hebrew University archaeologist (Word).

Read more at the following sites:

• BBC: King Herod’s ancient tomb ‘found’
• Todd Bolen at Bible Places Blog:
  • Herod’s Tomb - Initial Report
  • King Herod: Ten Things You Didn’t Know
  • Herod’s Tomb: Press Conference
  • Herod’s Tomb: Full Report Released
• Bloomberg: Herod’s Tomb Found at Site Near Jerusalem, Archaeologists Say
• CNN:
  • King Herod’s tomb unearthed, Israeli university claims
  • King Herod ’s tomb found, archaeologist says
• Crosswalk: Update: Herod’s Tomb Photos
• Haaretz: Archeologist: King Herod’s tomb desecrated, but discovery ‘high point’
• Hindustan Times: Israeli scientists discover tomb of Herod
• Israel National News:
  • Herod’s Grave Uncovered
  • Photo Essay: Herod’s Tomb Discovered in Gush Etzion
• Jerusalem Post: Herod’s grave and tomb discovered at Herodium
• LATimes: Team says it’s found Herod’s tomb
• MSNBC: Researchers say they’ve found Herod’s tomb
• National Geographic News: Photo Gallery: King Herod’s Tomb Said Found Near Jerusalem
• National Post (Canada): King Herod’s tomb discovered
• News@HebrewU: Tomb of King Herod Discovered at Herodium by Hebrew University Archaeologist
• OpenBible.info: The Tomb of Herod: Coordinates
• PBase: Discovery of Herod’s Tomb From Herodion National Park (photos)
• Reuters: Israeli archaeologists unearth King Herod’s tomb
• Spiegel: Photos
• Ben Witherington: Herod the Great’s Tomb Discovered
• Yahoo News: King Herod’s tomb may have been found (slideshow)

HT: Darrell Bock

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