1. NIMROD'S FORTRESS N.P. 2. HERMON STREAM N.R. Rules of conduct at Herodium Park NATIONAL PARKS (BANIAS) & NATURE RESERVES 3. TEL DAN N.R. IN ISRAEL 4. SENIR STREAM N.R. Please follow these rules, for your safety and to protect the site: Herodium Legend 5. HORSHAT TAL N.P. 9 INPA Site 6. IYON STREAM N.R. Entry to children under 10 years of age is permitted only with 7. HULA N.R. Nature Reserve & National Park Areas 8. TEL HAZOR N.P. an adult. Park 9. AKHZIV N.P. 10. YEHI'AM FORTRESS N.P. Do not damage the antiquities! 11. BAR'AM N.P. 12. AMUD STREAM N.R. Do not remove stones, sherds, coins or other valuable items. 13. KORAZIM N.P. 14. CAPERNAUM N.P. Use official paths only. Do not cross fences or railings. 15. BETIHA - BET TSAIDA N.R. 16. YEHUDIYA N.R.- Meshushim Stream Visits are permitted only during opening hours. 4.13 17. GAMLA N.R. 18. KURSI N.P. Do not light fires! 19. HAMAT TVERYA N.P. 20. ARBEL N.P. Stay away from the cliff edge. Be careful of falling and rolling 21. EN AFEK N.R. 22. ZIPPORI N.P. stones. 23. HAI-BAR CARMEL N.R. Visitors should carry water and wear comfortable shoes and a 24. MT. CARMEL N.P. The royal chamber in the theater 25. BET SHE'ARIM N.P. hat. 26. NAHAL ME'AROT N.R. 27. DOR HABONIM N.R. Keep the area clean. 28. TEL MEGIDDO N.P. (ARMAGEDDON) Obey rangers’ instructions and report any suspicious object at 29. KOKHAV HAYARDEN N.P. (BELVOIR) the site. 30. MA'AYAN HAROD N.P. 31. BET ALFA N.P. Visit at your own risk. 32. GAN HASHLOSHA N.P. (SAKHNE) 33. BET SHE'AN N.P. 34. TANINIM STREAM N.R. 35. CAESAREA N.P. 36. BET YANAY BEACH N.P. 37. SEBASTIA N.P. 38. Mount Gerizim N.P. 39. APOLLONIA N.P. 40. YARKON N.P. 41. EN PRAT N.R. 42. THE MONASTERY OF ST. EUTHYMIUS 43. THE INN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN 44. THE MONASTERY OF ST. MARTYRIUS Authority 45. NEBI SAMUEL N.P. 46. JERUSALEM WALLS N.P. 47. CASTEL N.P. 48. EN HEMED N.P. (AQUA BELLA) 49. STALACTITE CAVE N.R. 50. ASHKELON N.P. 51. BET GUVRIN N.P. (MARESHA) 52. QUMRAN N.P. 53. QASER EL- YAHUD BAPTISMAL SITE 54. ENOT TSUKIM N.R. (EN FASHKHA) 55. HERODIUM P. 56. EN GEDI N.R. 57. EN GEDI ANTIQUITIES N.P. 58. MASADA N.P. , GIS unit, Israel Nature & Parks 59. TEL ARAD N.P. 60. TEL BE'ER SHEVA N.P. 61. ESHKOL N.P. (BESOR) 62. MAMSHIT N.P. (KURNUB) Stucco in the theater’s royal chamber 63. SHIVTA N.P. 64. BEN GURION'S BURIAL PLACE N.P. 65. EN AVDAT N.P. 66. AVDAT N.P. Opening hours: 67. RAMON VISITOR CENTER & BIO RAMON 68. HAI-BAR YOTVATA N.R. April–September: 8:00–17:00 map: Eco-Geo Info. Center (DESERT WILDLIFE) 69. CORAL BEACH N.R. The royal theater October–March: 8:00–16:00 On Fridays and holiday eves, the site closes one hour earlier. Text: Prof. Ehud Netzer and Roi Porat Editing: Aviam Eter, Yaacov Shkolnik and Guy Steibel Development of the park and its preparation for visitors was carried out Translation: Miriam Feinberg Vamosh by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in cooperation with the Prime Drawings and map: Herodium Archaeological Expedition, Hebrew Minister’s Office, the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration, the Ministry University of Jerusalem; Marcus Edelkof, Tchelet Rom, Studio Y of Tourism, the Israel Government Tourist Corporation, the Gush Etzion Photos: Gabi Laron, Tal Rogovsky Regional Council, the Office of the Judea and Samaria Archaeology Photo of sarchophagus: Medad Socholovsky, Israel Museum Officer and the Israel Antiquities Authority. Archaeological excavations www.parks.org.il Herodium Park. Tel: 02-5636249 Production: Adi Greenbaum are under the aegis of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Conservation ENGLISH Publication of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority of finds is by the Israel Museum conservation laboratories. was subsequently held by Roman governors until the outbreak of Research Visiting the site Welcome to the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans in 66 CE, when Thanks to its proximity to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, numerous Jewish rebels entrenched themselves there. They were defeated in pilgrims began visiting Herodium (“Jabel Fureidis”) as early as the Herodium Park 71 CE, about a year after the Romans conquered Jerusalem and 15th century. In 1838 the American explorer Edward Robinson Lower Herodium destroyed the Temple. identified the site as Herodium and in 1879 the Swiss architect The path from the entrance pavilion to the top of the mountain But while he thus perpetuated the memory of his family and his During the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132–135/6 CE) the mountain Conrad Schick described the site in detail and drew its plan. affords a good view of the remains of Lower Herodium, which friends, he did not neglect to leave memorials of himself…An palace-fortress was a key center for Jewish rebels. Evidence of the Father Virgilio Corbo was the first to excavate Herodium for extend for some 150 dunams (37.5 acres) from the foot of the artificial rounded hill, sixty furlongs from Jerusalem was given activities of Bar Kokhba and his men were found in excavations the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem, from 1962 northern slope. Lower Herodium includes the large palace, the the same name [Herodium] but more elaborate embellishment. to 1967, revealing much of the mountain palace-fortress. After impressive pool complex, the bathhouse and structures used as The crest he crowned with a ring of round towers; the enclosure 1967, the Hebrew University’s Gideon Foerster excavated the dwellings by guests and officials. It also encompasses the “funeral was filled with gorgeous palaces, the magnificent appearance of upper site ahead of its opening as a national park. More extensive complex,” with its grand hall (also known as the “monumental which was not confined to the interior of the apartments but excavations began in 1972, under the direction of the late Ehud structure”) and large ritual bath. East of the hall, remains can be outer walls, battlements and roofs, all had wealth lavished upon Netzer of the Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology in seen of a long approach course (30 ×350 m) apparently built for them in profusion.” Jerusalem, exposing the remains of Lower Herodium and the Herod’s elaborate funeral. (Josephus Flavius, Jewish War I, 419–420) underground tunnels within the mountain. In 2007, after years of searching, Netzer discovered the remains The mountain palace-fortress Herodium at the time of Herod of a large tomb and opulent coffins on the northern slope of the The artificial mountain and the entrance to the In 40 BCE, Herod had to flee for his life from Jerusalem and the mountain facing Jerusalem and subsequently, he unearthed the mountain palace-fortress royal theater and other structures. Thus, the long-standing mystery clutches of the Hasmonean ruler Mattathias Antigonus. After On your way up the mountain, notice, to the right of the path, of Herod’s burial place was finally solved. Antigonus made a treaty with the Parthians (the eastern empire the layer of small stones and gravel that build the artificial cone that was fighting the Romans at that time), he pursued Herod and of the mountain. Some 20 m before you reach the summit, his entourage, catching up with them southeast of Bethlehem. General view of Herodium a path forks to the left to a point with a view below of remains Herod barely survived the desperate battle and the events of that unforgettable day are what seems to have led him to build his both at Herodium and in documents unearthed in the Judean tomb at the battleground. Desert’s Wadi Muraba‘at caves. Immediately thereafter, Herod went to Rome where the senate During the Byzantine period (4th–7th centuries CE), a large crowned him king of Judea. However, it took him three more village with three churches was built at Lower Herodium over the years to take over his kingdom and subdue Mattathias Antigonus, remains of buildings from Herod’s time. A monastery and small leaving Herod sole ruler of the land, under Roman domination. chapel were also constructed in the mountain palace-fortress. Settlement at Lower Herodium apparently continued until the 9th In the third decade BCE, Herod began to build Herodium, century CE, after which the site stood abandoned until the first apparently as a government and administrative center in Judea, archaeological excavations. leaving Jerusalem mainly as the religious center. He named his daring, magnificent project after himself. Although Herodium was on the edge of the desert, it had abundant water brought from afar, flourishing gardens and bathhouses. Herod planned the site as an enormous complex of palaces (the largest in the Roman world at the time) consisting of three Prof. Ehud Netzer parts: 1. the mountain palace-fortress – a unique combination of Herodium at the time of Herod (artist’s rendering) palace, fortress and outstanding landmark; 2. Lower Herodium, (1934–2010) containing an extravagant entertainment area, administrative Ehud Netzer, architect and archaeologist of the Hebrew of the monumental staircase that led to the entrance corridor center and the king’s funeral complex; 3. the mountain slope, University’s Institute of Archaeology, was a world-renowned to the palace-fortress. Excavations revealed that the stairs and on the northern part of which, alongside a ceremonial staircase, scholar of Herod’s architecture, having excavated many the entrance corridor, which was supported by arches, were Herod built his tomb and a royal theater.