.jpg) Entrance to Herod's Family Tomb. Notice "rolling stone". | |
| Location | NearOld City of Jerusalem |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°46′26.4″N35°13′26.6″E / 31.774000°N 35.224056°E /31.774000; 35.224056 |
| History | |
| Builder | Herod the Great |
| Material | Stone, Herodian-type ashlars |
| Founded | 1st century BCE |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Preserved |
| Public access | Yes |
Herod's family tomb, with or without upper-case initials, can refer to several sites identified at different times as the burial structures of the immediate relatives ofHerod the Great, one of them probably being the famed king's own tomb.
The name "Herod's Family Tomb" has long been used for a 1st-century BCErock-cut funerary complex of excellent workmanship located nearKing David Hotel inJerusalem.[1] Thecruciform, 5-chamber tomb is built of perfectly cut and joinedHerodian-typeashlars and was found to still contain twoin situ decoratedsarcophagi, all dated to the first century BCE.[1]
A round funerary complex discovered nearDamascus Gate in Jerusalem has also been considered as the burial tower of Herod's relatives.[1] It is known as theopus reticulatum monument, and is mentioned twice byJosephus (War 5.108, 507), as "Herod's monuments" and as "Herod's monument", respectively.[2]
The 2007 discovery byEhud Netzer of the remains of an elaborate mausoleum at theHerodium fortress and administrative centre, along with the remains of three finely worked stonesarcophagi, has convinced most specialists that Herod's own tomb has been finally discovered, along with those of two close relatives.[3]