Israeli archaeologists say they have found King Herod's tomb

Published: 2007-05-09

HERODIUM, West Bank (CNS) -- After three and a half decades of scouring this dusty, heat-scorched mountainside, Israeli archaeologists said they have finally found the elusive tomb of King Herod the Great. The location and unique nature of the finds as well as the historical record leave no doubt that the finds are the remains of the king's burial site, despite there being no inscriptions, said Ehud Netzer, the Hebrew University professor of archaeology who has led the excavations at Herodium since 1972. The dig uncovered the various buildings at the towering cone-shaped site which King Herod, who ruled Judea on behalf of Rome from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C., had constructed. Only one or two other sarcophagi of this monumental size and quality have been discovered, he said. "Not every rich Jewish citizen of the time could afford a sarcophagus like this," he said. "It is really a royal one. The stone work is very different. It is really an important, well-executed monument. It is a great satisfaction (to have found it.) I am not sure I myself have fully digested it yet."

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .