Herodium – an impressive palace built by Herod the Great

The Romans gave Herod, who was an Adamite, the right to rule the Judea Province, and he was the King of Judea from 37 BCE to 4 BCE. He is most probably the biggest builder ever and at the same time was a ruthless and very paranoid man. This led him to build himself fortified safe havens where he could protect himself: Masada & Herodium. This is also where he was buried and in 2007 Prof. Ehud Netzer discovered his tomb.

He built Herodium as a place of refuge in case needed. Additionally, he used it during the 3 pilgrimage festivals to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds making their pilgrimage to the Holy Temple, Jerusalem.

Herodium is one of his amazing truly stunning & elaborate projects.

The corner stone was placed on 28 BCE in honor of his marriage to his loving wife Miriam, daughter of the High Priest. Herodium was then built between 22 to 15 BCE.

The mountain on top of which he built his palace and fortress is man-made – it required the reshaping of the hilltop and the labor of many slaves. From the top, it looks like a volcano mountain. Inside he built 4 towers with a tunnel connecting all 4 towers. In the center he built his Palace with a Roman Bath and spa, to mention only some of the many luxuries in the palace.

At the foothill of this elevated man-made hill, was a big city, bearing the same name, housing all the people that worked in the Palace, including a magnificent outdoor swimming pool and many other luxuries that Roman cities offered their citizens.

During the Big Revolt in 66 AD, the Jews tried to escape and save themselves from the Romans and fled to Herodium, being a perfect refuge and fortress. During the 2nd revolt, 132-135 AD – the “Bar Kochva” Revolt – they fortified themselves there, thus hoping to save their lives.

There is also evidence from the Byzantine era (the 4th century) that monks used this place as a monastery.

I’d like to thank the Watchman & Danny the Digger for this excellent video. Enjoy.