The Search For King Herod's Tomb Brought Archaeologists To An Incredible Site

A couple of thousand years ago, there was a truly magnificent sight outside Jerusalem. Back then, the thriving settlement of Herodium stood tall, protected by imposing walls that were visible for miles around. And inside this highly fortified space – built for the Judean king Herod – folks could while away the hours at the theater or soaking themselves at the local bathhouse. Herod even had his burial site here – or so legend had it, anyway. But these rumors remained unproved for decades until researchers finally made a truly momentous discovery.

A regal abode

It certainly seemed likely that Herod was buried in the settlement. He had built a palace here, after all. Herodium housed practically everything a king of the time could want, in fact – including an ornate royal box at that theater if the most powerful man in the region wanted to take in a play. And as Herodium was Judea’s second city, government offices and residences were also there. But there’s one thing that may not make sense. Simply put: why would the king want to move everything from Jerusalem to the remote desert?

Momma's boy

Well, Herod apparently had his reasons. And if records are to be believed, it was all to do with his mother. On one day, it’s said, the king and his entourage were traveling over uneven ground on the way to the city of Petra in modern-day Jordan. Suddenly, though, Herod’s mom’s cart tipped over. And for a frightening moment, it looked as though she had been killed as a consequence.

A king's promise

But by some miracle, Herod’s mother made it out alive. And this led the ruler to make an oath. He promised that his grave would ultimately lie at the location of the accident. Herod set out to make his vision a reality, too – even though the particular site he had in mind was almost ten miles from Jerusalem.

Construction begins

So, at the behest of the king, workers in the region set about building Herodium – which, as you may imagine, was an enormous undertaking. An aqueduct was particularly crucial to the whole endeavor – not least for keeping the toiling men alive in the heat – and so an example stretching several miles long was created. Herod then had his palace built at the very summit of the mountain, making it a spectacle for miles around.