King Herod the Great: A Historical Archaeological Study

Abstract

Herod the Great, one of the Kings in Palestine at the beginning of the

Roman age, was able through his pragmatic personality to pass the era of

emperors, conflict and to popularize himself as an effective and powerful

King. He settled down conflicts, wiped out competitors, and ruled over the

area extending from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River. He constructed

several cities, many huge buildings, walls and castles. He dug several

acquasystem canals which carried water to many important parts in the

Kingdom, especially Jerusalem.

Many stories were given about his personality. Some historians considered

him as a dictator while others referred to him as a pragmatic person who

understood the nature of the temporary conflicts, proved his personality and

saved the area from wars between great empires.

Herod built his castle south of Bethlehem on a high mountain in which

you can see the lower directions. It is a strong and huge castle on a cone

shaped mountain distinguished by its unique circular design. He also

constructed high circular tower and bathrooms in the Roman style in which

you can find paths, passages, columns and arch ceilings. At the bottom of the

mountain, Herod built a race cycling for horses, and the theatre for games

and ceremonies. Furthermore, he created many buildings with many rooms

for different purposes. To the west of these buildings, he had a royal building

for leaders and visitors and a special building for the Gods’ Statues.

In the recent diggings, many building were discovered within the

mountain in which they found the tomb (grave) of the King and many other

churches.

Herod could irrigate the castle in a very genius way since he used the

low areas toward The Dead Sea and brought water from Al- Arroub and

Artas and kept it in huge wells under the mountain. Many people think that

the area in that age was similar to heaven. In conclusion, the way the castle

was built in expressed the King’s ambitions to stay always on the throne,

despite all his lovers and enemies he remained remembered an area in the

desert in the old age.