Who is really buried in Herod's tomb?
In 2007 archaeologist Ehud Netzer discovered a tomb located in the desert not far from Jerusalem. At first, the researcher was convinced that he was in front of the mausoleum of Herod the Great, the ruler who ruled Judea not long before Jesus preached.
However, further investigation suggests that the burial appears to be decidedly modest for having belonged to a ruler. Archaeologists Joseph Patrick and Benjamin Arubas of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem think that the awkward structure of the tomb and the three modest coffins contained within it are too contrasting with the style of King Herod reported in the chronicles of the time.
Patrick thinks the tomb may have been neglected when Herod decided to build the Herodion, a huge complex built on a cone-shaped hill in the desert outside Jerusalem. The archaeologist suggests that a family member very dear to Herod may be buried in the tomb.
Who was Herod?
King Herod lived between 74 and 4 BC. He was a vassal king for the Romans with jurisdiction over all of Judea. The chronicles sometimes describe him as a genius, other times as a madman. He loved all members of his family, but doted on his mother and father.
He created many lavish buildings, including the famous Masada fortress, financing his projects with burdensome taxes that massacred his people. In the New Testament, Herod is identified as the one who gave the order to kill all children aged two and under, fearing that the birth of the child announced by the prophets could challenge him for the royal throne (Mt 2.16).
Documentation from the Jewish historian Josephus suggests that Herod was buried in the Herodion, lying on a bed of gold draped with opulent fabrics. The ancient historian narrates that an imposing court was prepared for his funeral in which the entire Judean army was present. But the exact location of Herod's burial remained a mystery for thousands of years.
Then, in 2007, Ehud Netzer announced that he had discovered King Herod's final resting place. The tomb looked like a building measuring 10 by 10 metres, with a pointed roof and three modest stone coffins inside. One of these, painted red, is thought to be the tomb of the great king.
Patrick and his colleague Aruba, however, think that Herod is not buried in the tomb. The structure appears too modest for a personality like that of the Jewish king. The planning and its design are also unusual: the building appears to be too small compared to other royal tombs discovered in the region. These are too moderate in size, especially if we think that they must have belonged to a king who called himself Herod the Great. Moreover, the tomb has only one conical tip, while the tombs of the Hasmoneans, the royal dynasty that preceded Herod, had seven.
Furthermore, the complex does not have gates or spaces for visitors intending to pay homage to the deceased. The royal tombs of that time had very elaborate courtyards for this purpose: there seems to be not enough space to accommodate 20 people comfortably, and there is no respectable avenue leading to the coffin.
Furthermore, the building has an awkward design, with two staircases above the mausoleum and two scruffy walls delimiting the burial area. The complex is not even symmetrically aligned with the rest of the Herodion, all factors that make the structure unsuitable for a character like Herod.
Finally, the coffins in the tomb are made of local limestone and red stone. Usually, people like the Jewish king preferred coffins made of marble, or even gold, materials considered more suitable for the rank of sovereigns.
If the tomb is not Herod's, then whose tomb is it?
When Herod ordered the construction of the Herodion, the builders destroyed several buildings in the area, except for the one discovered in 2007 by Netzer, which suggests that the people buried in the mausoleum were dear to the king. It is possible that Herod's close relatives, such as his mother, father or brother, could occupy the building.
The exact location of the Jewish king's burial remains a mystery, but some parts of the large complex still need to be excavated.
