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38-666: Herodion is a popular mispronunciation of Herodeion , the Greek name of Herodium , a hill, palace-fortress, and town named after King Herod the Great . Heodion is also an ancient Greek given name that may refer to Herodium The site is in Area C of the West Bank , formally under the jurisdiction of the Israeli Civil Administration , a body of military officers, and in practice it

76-427: A (greater) height by the hand of man and rounded off in the shape of a breast. At intervals it has round towers, and it has a steep ascent formed of two hundred steps of hewn stone. Within it are costly royal apartments made for security and for ornament at the same time. At the base of the hill there are pleasure grounds built in such a way as to be worth seeing, among other things because of the way in which water, which

114-584: A palace fortress and a small town, named after Herod the Great , built between 23 and 15 BCE. A sarcophagus discovered in 2007 was claimed to belong to Herod as it was more ornate than others found in the area. The modern English name is a transliteration of the Greek spelling ( Ancient Greek : Ἡρώδειον ). This is followed by the Modern Arabic ( Arabic : هيروديون ) and the Modern Hebrew ( Herodion Hebrew : הרודיון ). The name Herodis ( Hebrew : הרודיס )

152-534: Is a formal dining room in a Roman building. The word is adopted from the Greek triklinion ( τρικλίνιον )—from tri- ( τρι- ), "three", and klinē ( κλίνη ), a sort of couch , or rather chaise longue . Each couch was sized to accommodate a diner who reclined on their left side on cushions while some household slaves served multiple courses brought from the culina , or kitchen , and others entertained guests with music, song, or dance. The triclinium

190-617: Is administered jointly with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority . Israel asserts that it is entitled to work in the area under the Oslo Accords , but the Palestinian authorities say Israel has no right to undertake digs there or remove artifacts that Israel discovered in excavations there. Herodium is the only site that is named after King Herod the Great. It was known by the Crusaders as

228-429: Is lacking in that place, is brought in from a distance and at great expense. The surrounding plain was built up as a city second to none, with the hill serving as an acropolis for the other dwellings. Archaeologists believe that the palace was designed by architects and built by slaves and paid workers (contractors). Herod was considered one of the greatest builders of his time and was not daunted by geography—his palace

266-487: The dominus . As static, privileged space, dining rooms received extremely elaborate decoration, with complex perspective scenes and central paintings (or, here, mosaics). Dionysus , Venus , and still lifes of food were popular. Middle-class and elite Roman houses usually had at least two triclinia ; it is not unusual to find four or more. Here, the triclinium maius ("big dining room") would be used for larger dinner parties, which would typically include many clients of

304-542: The Great Revolt started, Herodium was abandoned. The Jews eventually had a base at Herodium where they built a synagogue which can still be seen today, unlike much of Herod's Palace. The Roman bathhouse consisted of three areas, the caldarium , the tepidarium , and the frigidarium . It also had a very impressive dome which is still in good condition today despite thousands of years of earthquakes and wars. The caldarium had vaulted ceilings, raised floors, and channels in

342-536: The Israel Museum featured finds from among some 30 tons of material transferred from the Herodium site back into Israel. The Palestinian National Authority protested, and Rula Maayah , the Palestinian tourism and antiquities minister said that according to international law Israelis have no right to excavate Herodium, which is in the occupied West Bank, or to take any antiquities from it. Palestinian officials compared

380-551: The klinē to the male sex. The Romans may have seen the first dining klinai used by the Etruscans but may have refined the practice when they later came to closer contact with the Greek culture. Dining was the defining ritual in Roman domestic life, lasting from late afternoon through late at night. Typically, nine to twenty guests were invited, arranged in a prescribed seating order to emphasize divisions in status and relative closeness to

418-708: The "Mountain of Franks". Palestinian locals historically called it Jabal al-Firdous or Jabal al-Fureidis ( Arabic : جبل فريديس , lit. "Mountain of the Little Paradise"); Edward Robinson in 1838 described it as "Frank Mountain", in reference to the Crusaders. In 1841, Edward Robinson 's identified the site in Biblical Researches in Palestine as Herodium based on the description found in Josephus . Josephus described

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456-509: The Greeks in the early seventh century BC. From there, it spread to its colonies in southern Italy ( Magna Graecia ) and was eventually adopted by the Etruscans . In contrast to the Greek tradition of allowing only male guests into the formal dining room, called andrōn , while everyday meals were taken with the rest of the family in the oikos , the Etruscans seem not to have restricted the use of

494-602: The Jordanian Temporary Law no. 51, 1966, and the Oslo Accords. According to the provisions of the Oslo II Accord, archaeological issues of common interest would be handled by a joint Israeli–Palestinian committee. Few if any of these agreements have been implemented, and Palestinians have not been consulted or asked to collaborate in the work at the site. Triclinium A triclinium ( pl. : triclinia )

532-457: The Roman Jewish historian Josephus , he "built a town on that spot in commemoration of his victory, and enhanced it with wonderful palaces... and he called it Herodion after himself". Josephus describes Herodium as follows: This fortress, which is some sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem, is naturally strong and very suitable for such a structure, for reasonably nearby is a hill, raised to

570-517: The Torah scrolls and a reading desk. Netzer discovered the Roman Theatre just before his death in late 2010. The royal theatre was uncovered near the base of Herod's tomb (see Herod Family Tomb ). The theatre contained an elaborately decorated loggia, or a theatre box, was discovered. This means that when Herod or other notable officials went to see a play, they would receive luxury treatment. The rest of

608-494: The artifacts would be returned to the Palestinians after the exhibition. The site is in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli control. The Israel Museum cited the Oslo Accords as giving Israel a right to perform archaeology in the territories and said they will return it to the West Bank when the exhibition has ended. In analyzing the controversy, Morag Kersel states that the site is regulated by Israeli military orders,

646-622: The audience would be seated below on benches that could accommodate about 450–650 people. What is quite unique about this find is that frescoes of landscapes were discovered, of a kind suggesting that the painters were well travelled; they depict scenes of Italy and even the Nile River in Egypt. It is also assumed that the painters were on loan to Herod from Caesar in Rome . Hebrew University professor Ehud Netzer reported on 8 May 2007 that he had discovered

684-581: The entrance of the room. In Roman-era dwellings, particularly wealthy ones, triclinia were common and the hosts and guests would recline on pillows while feasting . The Museum of Archeology in Arezzo, Italy and the House of Cairo in Pompeii offer what are thought to be accurate reconstructions of triclinia . The custom of using klinai ("dining couches") while taking a meal rather than sitting became popular among

722-566: The exhibition to the historical plunder of archaeological treasures by former colonial powers. Some Israeli commentators have argued that, such excavations of, and removal of material from, sites in the Palestinian territories go beyond what is permitted to an occupying power such as Israel. One Israeli archaeologist, Yonathan Mizrachi, in an article co-written with Yigal Bronner, stated that, 'Since Herodion and Herod's palaces in Jericho are located in

760-449: The lower palace, at the base of the hill. Herod the Great built a palace within the fortress of Herodium. Herod himself commissioned a lavish palace to be built between 23 and 15 BCE atop Herodium for all to see. The palace itself consisted of four towers of seven stories, a bathhouse, courtyards, a Roman theatre, banquet rooms, a large walkway ("the course"), as well as extravagant living quarters for himself and guests. Once Herod died and

798-527: The owner . Smaller triclinia would be used for smaller dinner parties, with a more exclusive set of guests. Hence, their decoration was often at least as elaborate as that found in larger triclinia . As in the larger triclinia , wine, food, and love were always popular themes. However, because of their association with patronage and because dining entertainment often included recitation of highbrow literature like epics , dining rooms could also feature more "serious" themes. As in many houses in Pompeii , here

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836-419: The ring, media published that it could have possibly belonged to Pontius Pilate . Archaeologist Roi Porat said that all explanations are equally possible for the owner of the ring: "It was important to publish a careful scientific article, but in practice we have a ring inscribed with the name Pilate and the personal connection just cries out." While much of the debate has focused on the Greek name inscribed on

874-466: The ring, the image is of equal significance and may further support that this was the ring used by Pilate's administrative assistant for sealing documents for Pilate. The image on the ring is possibly associated with Roman religious ceremonies (i.e., suovetaurilia , bacchanalia ) and the imperial cult that were characteristic of the images on the coins that Pilate had minted during his term as governor. In February 2013 an exhibit dedicated to Herod at

912-423: The smaller dining room ( triclinium minus ) forms a suite with the adjoining cubiculum and bath. In later republican times, after the introduction of round tables of citrus wood , the three couches were replaced by one of crescent shape (called sigma from the form of the Greek letter), which as a rule was only intended to hold five persons. The two corner seats ( cornua ) were the places of honor that, on

950-522: The territories that Israel occupied in 1967, they are—according to international law, the codes of ethics for the preservation of antiquities, and even the Oslo Accords—supposedly under Palestinian control and responsibility.' The Israel Museum's director, James S. Snyder initially stated that the items from Herodium would be returned to the West Bank after the exhibition, "in better condition than before", but later clarified that this did not mean

988-502: The tomb base a small 450-seat capacity (see Theatre ). Netzer died in October 2010 from injuries sustained from a fall at the site, and access to the mausoleum was subsequently blocked to the public pending review of the site's safety. In October 2013, archaeologists Joseph Patrich and Benjamin Arubas challenged the identification of the tomb as that of Herod. According to Patrich and Arubas,

1026-439: The tomb is too modest to be Herod's and has several unlikely features. Roi Porat, who replaced Netzer as excavation leader after the latter's death, stood by the identification. Fragments of three stone sarcophagi were found near the mausoleum: one of them was reddish and the other two light-colored. The reddish sarcophagus, decorated in a sumptuous but restrained style, was identified by the excavators as Herod's sarcophagus. It

1064-491: The tomb of Herod with his team of archeologists, above tunnels and water pools at a flattened site halfway up the hill to the hilltop palace-fortress of Herodium, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Jerusalem. Later excavations strengthened the idea that this site is Herod's mausoleum. The base of the tomb has now been uncovered and is visible to visitors to the site. His team consisted of Roi Porat, Yakov Kalman and Rachel Chachy-Laureys. The 2009–2010 excavations uncovered near

1102-415: The walls and constructing a mikveh outside the entrance. There is minimal evidence regarding any alterations made by the defenders to the existing decor or furnishings, and the space essentially functioned as a simple communal hall. The entrance faced eastward, while Jerusalem lay almost due north. The repurposed synagogue lacked specialized features commonly found in synagogues, such as a niche for housing

1140-629: The walls to conduct heat. The tepidarium had mosaic floors and frescoes just like the living quarters of the palace. The frigidarium, the last stop in the bathhouse, was where guests would cool off in a large pool. During the First Jewish–Roman War , the defenders of Herodium repurposed an existing structure within the upper palace as a synagogue , considered one of the earliest in the Levant. The original space, formerly Herod's triclinium , underwent renovations that involved installing benches along

1178-556: Was begun in 1962 by Virgilio Canio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda , from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem , and it continued until 1967: they discovered the upper citadel, at the top of the hill. From 1972, excavations were carried out by Ehud Netzer , working on behalf of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem , and they were intermittent until the archaeologist's death in 2010. Netzer excavated mostly

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1216-427: Was built on the edge of the desert and was situated atop an artificial hill. The largest of the four towers was built on a stone base 18 meters in diameter. This was most likely where Herod lived; he decorated his rooms with mosaic floors and elaborate frescoes . The other three towers, which consisted of living spaces and storage, were 16 meters in diameter. Outside, several cisterns were built to collect water that

1254-508: Was channeled into the palace. In the midst of the First Jewish–Roman War , the defenders of Herodium transformed Herod's triclinium into a synagogue. Herodium was conquered and destroyed by the Romans in 71 CE. At the beginning of the Bar Kokhba revolt sixty years later, Simon bar Kokhba declared Herodium as his secondary headquarters. The fortress was commanded by Yeshua ben Galgula , who

1292-404: Was characterized by three lecti (singular lectus : bed or couch), called triclinares ("of the triclinium "), on three sides of a low square table, whose surfaces sloped away from the table at about 10 degrees. Diners would recline on these surfaces in a semi-recumbent position. The fourth side of the table was left free, presumably to allow service to the table. Usually, the open side faced

1330-560: Was found in the 1960s inscribed in one of the Bar Kokhba letters recovered from the Muraba’at Caves in the Judaean desert, and is thought to represent the original Hebrew name for the site. In 40 BCE, after the Parthian conquest of Syria, Herod fled to Masada . On the way, at the location of Herodion, Herod clashed with Jews loyal to his enemy Antigonus, and emerged victorious. According to

1368-483: Was found smashed into hundreds of pieces. Scholars suggested that this sarcophagus held the king's body and was destroyed by Jewish rebels during the Jewish–Roman war. The sarcophagus is displayed today at the Israel Museum . In 1968–1969, during excavations directed by archaeologist Gideon Foerster, at a section of Herod's burial tomb and palace hundreds of artifacts were found, including a copper alloy ring. The ring

1406-499: Was likely in Bar Kokhba's second or third line of command. Archaeological evidence for the revolt was found all over the site, from the outside buildings to the water system under the mountain. Inside the water system, supporting walls built by the rebels were discovered, and another system of caves was found. Inside one of the caves, burned wood was found which was dated to the time of the revolt. The archaeological excavation of Herodium

1444-421: Was overlooked but in 2018 it was given a thorough laboratory cleaning and scholarly examination. At the center of the ring is an engraved krater , or amphora similar in style to the monumental urn (handleless amphorae or acroteria ) of Herodium which is encircled by "partly deformed" Greek letters spelling out "of Pilates" in Greek. Although scientists were not sure about who is the "Pilates" mentioned on

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