Herod’s Mausoleum: Going Out In Style

The old adage is that you can't take it with you, but many people have tried. From the ancient Egyptians who actually did take their wealth with them, to the man who was buried in his favorite car. People through out the centuries have devised ways to show off their wealth in death.

King Herod was no exception.

Hebrew University’s Archaeological Institute announced on Wednesday additional discoveries in Herod’s grave, located 9 miles south of Jerusalem.

The findings include coffins of Herod’s family, a theater with a VIP room, and two coffins containing the remains of most likely Herod’s wife and the wife of Archelaus, Herod’s son. The new findings further support the idea that the grave discovered last year belongs to Herod the Great.

Herod the Great ruled as the Roman king of Judea between 37-4 BCE. The king, who was famous for his architectural ingenuity throughout Israel, left his mark on numerous structures in Israel, which include the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the construction of massive retaining walls that surround the Temple Mount, the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hevron, and Herodion, his residence and burial place built on an artificial mountain.

The mausoleum, where Herod’s tomb was discovered last year, is almost completely restored. The two-story, 82 foot-high mausoleum is built on a podium with a concave roof. Dr. Ehud Netzer, professor of archaeology at Hebrew University, claims that Jewish fighters destroyed the mausoleum when they conquered the site during their revolt against the Romans in 66 CE. “Herod decided to create the castle and to establish a burial plot at the Herodion Mountain since this place overlooks Jerusalem and its surroundings,” Professor Netzer stated.

A theater that could hold an audience of 750 was discovered not far from the mausoleum. In front of the seating area is a large room for VIPs, from which the king and his close friends would watch the shows. Paintings dated between 15-10 BCE adorn the rooms’ walls. The paintings were rendered using the dry wall (seco) technique, which Herod preferred to the fresco, or wet plaster technique.

In the excavation that took place this year in the area of the mausoleum, the remains of two white-colored tombs were found, most likely belonging to Herod’s family. The bright red and elegant coffin of Herod, which was displayed last year, is now completely restored, along with a large tomb. Prof. Netzer ascertains that the red coffin is the burial coffin of Herod. In contrast to the white coffins, the red coffin was shattered into hundreds of pieces, and spread throughout the mausoleum area. Prof. Netzer estimates that Malthace the Samaritan was buried in the larger of the two white burial coffins.

Malthace was King Herod’s fifth wife and the mother of his son, Archelaus. Malthace died in Rome several months after her husband’s passing. Her body was probably transported to Judea and reinterred next to Herod’s grave. It is possible that Archelaus’ second wife, who died in 5 CE, was buried in the second coffin, but the evidence is inconclusive.

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What really makes me laugh is the theater for 750 people with a VIP room. Some afterlife. Theater shows! I wonder if Herod enjoyed Musical Comedies or Dramas.

I you can try to take it with you, but why? The money would be better spent enjoying life now and not worrying about your afterlife.