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Herod's Mountain Hideaway

(Times of Israel) Aviva and Shmuel Bar-Am - Herodian National Park is a mountain in the wilderness where King Herod won a battle with the Parthian (Iranian) army in 40 BCE. When he died in 4 BCE, his son Archelaus carried out his father's wishes and buried Herod at Herodian, as recorded by the Roman historian Josephus Flavius. Today, Herodian is just a seven-minute drive from Jerusalem's Har Homa neighborhood. An astonishing archaeological site complete with a labyrinth of cool underground caves, the site recently opened a small visitors' center with a sparkling production about King Herod and his funeral procession. Visitors spot Herodian well before they arrive. Its cone-like shape, protruding from the desert landscape, looks very much like a volcano. Herodian was constructed in 23 BCE as a summer palace with a wonderful view of Jerusalem and the Judean Desert. It also provided Herod with a sanctuary close to Jerusalem if it became necessary to flee. A double-wall, 63 meters in diameter and seven stories high, surrounded an exquisite fortified castle with salons, banquet rooms, courtyards, and a luxurious bathhouse. At the foot of the mountain, Herod added an elaborate palace complex which served as both country club and administrative center. A large rectangle surrounded by pillars was once an impressive pool 70 meters long by 45 meters and three meters deep. In 66 CE the Jews revolted against Roman rule and conquered Herodion. Underground tunnels were prepared for action at the beginning of the Bar-Kochba Revolt in 132.
2013-09-13 00:00:00
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