Israeli archaeologists have uncovered a grand arched walkway built by Jewish Roman-era king Herod the Great at his Herodium palace that sheds more light on his formidable building projects. After the palace-fort was completed, Herod appears to have changed his mind, and he ordered the entire mound, including the walkway, to be buried under rubble. It remained hidden until the debris was removed during the past year. Herodium, an imposing hill that dominates the mostly arid landscape in Judea and Samaria between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, was made to look flat-topped by Herod's building and is the only project known to bear his own name. Archaeologists believe he intended the steep pathway that ascended into the palace to be used ultimately for his own burial procession, but because he later ordered the entire hill to be covered over, they now think he wanted the whole palace to be his mausoleum. "The greatest excitement we experienced here was the discovery that this magnificent walkway, which is a huge, beautiful, exceptional structure, was totally covered [in sand] by the same person who decided to build it. Covering it was of course part of Herod's big decision to seal the palace and turn everything into a mausoleum," said dig leader Roi Porat. "The most significant story here is really the dramatic decision [by King Herod] to cover such a thing. We had no idea. We were certain that the corridor was active in Herod's days; we had no idea we were about to discover that it was sealed. Its sealing is a whole new story, a layer of history. Usually, archaeologists prove what we know from history books, but here it's the opposite -- Josephus tells us the background, doesn't go into details, he describes Herodium but without phases or even a mention of the exact location of the tomb -- we really discover and write the history by means of the discoveries, and this is the great excitement." The walkway was hewn into the limestone hill and partly covered by stone arches. It was adorned by frescoes that have partially survived because they were protected from the elements by the rubble for over 2,000 years. The lower part of the pathway is flanked by Herod's actual burial site, discovered a few years ago, and a theater structure. "It's a very impressive and very unique project, because just imagine hauling all these tons and tons of quarry deposit and covering the mountain and then creating a way up to the palace. And it's all connected with the burial monument and with memory; it's just glorifying his memory," said archaeologist Yakov Kalman, adding that Herod was less concerned about utility than about making an impression. Porat said that in light of the dig's finds, it is not clear what led into the palace-fort after the walkway was covered over. Porat said he expected the new discovery to be opened to the public in about a year. During his reign from 37 BCE to 4 BCE, Herod rebuilt the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and initiated other grand projects, including a winter palace at Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea, another palace in Jericho, and another in the Mediterranean port of Caesarea. According to the Christian story, Herod ordered his men to kill all the male infants in and around Jesus' birthplace, Bethlehem, fearing that one would grow up to become the "king of the Jews" and challenge his rule.
Credit: Reuters
Herodium walkway reveals more of Jewish king's grand designs
Archaeologists unearth grand arched walkway in one of King Herod's major buildings • They believe he intended it to be used for his burial procession, but changed his mind and covered it over • The discovery is to open to the public in about a year.
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