Very commercialised thronging with people looking for a religious experience. It is a place I would willingly leave off any tour.
The Herodion National Park – King Herod’s Tomb & Castle
NOTE: Last entry is 1 hour before closing time
Historian Josephus writes that King Herod the Great built a magnificent palace at a spot located about 12 kilometers south of Jerusalem in order to commemorate his military victory over the Parthians. Herod “built a town on that spot in commemoration of his victory, and enhanced it with wonderful palaces… and he called it Herodion after himself,” the Jewish-Roman historian writes in The Wars of the Jews.
He goes on to note the strength of the fortress, located alongside a hill with a distinct conical (he calls it breast-like) shape, which Herod greatly expanded and filled with lush gardens, elaborate apartments, and of course, heavily fortified ramparts. And indeed, even today, 2,000 years after Herod’s time, Herodion is a wonder to behold. Although the site was conquered and destroyed by the invading Roman army in 70 CE, the ruins are still very well-preserved and include the various halls of the fortress, ritual baths, water cisterns, and the remains of a first-century synagogue built in the Galilean style.
The Herodion is located east of Bethlehem, near the Jewish settlements of Tekoa and Nokdim, and is a major landmark visible for miles around. In 2007, archaeologist Ehud Netzer claimed that he had discovered the tomb of King Herod midway up the hill on the northern slope of Herodion, at a spot that directly corresponds with a description of the King’s burial place in Josephus. Netzer died in October 2010, several days after sustaining a bad fall when a railing gave way at the site, which he had been excavating for more than 40 years.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Based on 298 traveler reviewsNew
“In the Palistinean territory of the west bank”
An infrequently visited site, the Temple of King Herod was placed a top this man made mountain. A series of tunnels laces through the hillsides. Herod's tomb was only recently located after 35 years of explorations. The sarcophagus is on display in the Jerusalem Museum - archeological wing. Much of the lower...
MoreAn infrequently visited site, the Temple of King Herod was placed a top this man made mountain. A series of tunnels laces through the hillsides. Herod's tomb was only recently located after 35 years of explorations. The sarcophagus is on display in the Jerusalem Museum - archeological wing. Much of the lower site has yet to be excavated - maybe UNESCO will declare this spectacular place a world heritage site and secure the surrounding lands for future exploration before they are lost forever. The access trails are a steep uphill climb of loose rocks and dirt. Wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. No handicapped access.
Less“A splendid sight in awesome surroundings”
The Herodeion can be seen from afar, also from Jerusalem. It is an archaeological site that offers magnificent views of the land around and great insights into the life and death of King Herod and Israel in that era. There are many interesting spots in Herodeion. Visiting the place with a group is not...
MoreThe Herodeion can be seen from afar, also from Jerusalem. It is an archaeological site that offers magnificent views of the land around and great insights into the life and death of King Herod and Israel in that era. There are many interesting spots in Herodeion. Visiting the place with a group is not ideal because you might want to stay somewhere and look around for some time instead of going on and on. I enjoyed looking at the awesome landscape with Arab settlements. Take water and a sunhat with you. It might be exhausting to walk up and down the hill and the tunnels if you are not good at walking.
Less“Mass Tourism”
