Riverwind

Rats! Well, I guess it was to be expected, but HaAretz reports that Herod's Tomb was desecrated, probably shortly after his death during the revolt against Rome. Perhaps it was the zealots who took up the Herodium as a defensive stronghold.

HaAretz - Herod's Tomb Desecrated

Riverwind

The following image, from HaAretz, makes it appear that the tomb's entrance was discovered in the side of the Herodium:




More detailed information from the Hebrew University:

Hebrew University: Conference on the discovery of Herod's tomb

Vorkosigan

Fabulous pics, Riverwind and spin. Thanks for sharing.

Vorkosigan

Riverwind

Thanks for the image links, Cege, great stuff. Here is one that I thought might be of interest. It is an image of fragments from the smashed sarcophagus of Herod (though I can't tell the scale):

(ok...well, these images don't want to show up, but you can still click on the links.)


Here is an image of the excavation on the side of the hill:


And don't tell me this bone box is a fake!

(P.S. - Cege, I'm male. Riverwind is a character in the Dragon Lance fantasy novels. ...it's ok...I've done the same to others...)

Riverwind

For those who don't know, this "mountain" / hill, is man-made. Herod had it constructed as one of his many fortresses.

Riverwind

Would someone mind posting a link to the passage(s) in Josephus that describe Herod's funeral and burial for reference? --Thanks.

Ben C Smith

Josephus, Antiquities 17.8.3 §196-199 (Whiston translation):

Εντευθεν δε ταφον ητοιμαζον τω βασιλει μελησαν Αρχελαω πολυτελεστατην γενεσθαι την εκκομιδην του πατρος και παντα τον κοσμον προκομισαντος εις ο συμπομπευσειε τω νεκρω. εφερετο δε επι κλινης χρυσεας λιθοις πολυτελεσιν και ποικιλοις διαπεπασμενης, στρωμνη τε ην αλουργης και ημπεσχετο πορφυρισιν ο νεκρος διαδηματι ησκημενος υπερκειμενου στεφανου χρυσεου σκηπτρον τε τη δεξια παρακειμενον. περι τε την κλινην οι τε υιεις και το πληθος ην των συγγενων, επι δε τουτοις το στρατιωτικον κατα οικεια εθνη η προσηγοριας διεκειντο αυτοις νεμηθεντες, πρωτοι μεν οι δορυφοροι, μετα δε το Θρακιον, επι δε τουτοις οποσοι Γερμανων, και το Γαλατικον μετ αυτους, εν τω κοσμω παντες τω πολεμιστηριω. τουτων δε κατοπιν ηδη πας ο στρατος ωσπερ ες πολεμον εξοδευοντες [ωσπερ] υπο λοχαγων αγομενοι και τοις ταξιαρχουσιν αυτων. τουτοις επετεταχατο πεντακοσιοι των οικετων αρωματοφοροι. ηεσαν δε επι Ηρωδιου σταδια οκτω· τηδε γαρ αυτω εγενοντο αι ταφαι κελευσματι τω αυτου. Ηρωδης μεν δη τουτον ετελευτα τον τροπον.

After this was over, they prepared for his funeral, it being Archelaus's care that the procession to his father's sepulcher should be very sumptuous. Accordingly, he brought out all his ornaments to adorn the pomp of the funeral. The body was carried upon a golden bier, embroidered with very precious stones of great variety, and it was covered over with purple, as well as the body itself; he had a diadem upon his head, and above it a crown of gold: he also had a scepter in his right hand. About the bier were his sons and his numerous relations; next to these was the soldiery, distinguished according to their several countries and denominations; and they were put into the following order: First of all went his guards, then the band of Thracians, and after them the Germans; and next the band of Galatians, every one in their habiliments of war; and behind these marched the whole army in the same manner as they used to go out to war, and as they used to be put in array by their muster-masters and centurions; these were followed by five hundred of his domestics carrying spices. So they went eight furlongs to Herodium; for there by his own command he was to be buried. And thus did Herod end his life.

Ben.

Malachi151

I'm waiting for the personal diary that records his ordering of the "slaughtering of the innocents."

Chuck Rightmire

And this discovery is important why?

xaxxat

Because it proves that everything written in the gospels is factual and true...