Visit to Herodian

This strange bump on the landscape is Herodian. It is situated about 5 miles south of Bethlehem. We visited it today. 

Perched high on this hill is Herod's palace. It was a magnificent place. On top of the hill was the mountain palace-fortress.

Lower down the hill you can see the Royal Theater. Herod's magnificent Royal Chamber is being restored. The archaeologist responsible for all the work here, Ehud Netzer, sadly died in a fall close to the site of Herod's tomb in 2010.

Between the fortress and the theatre, there is a labyrinth of passages and very steep stairs. These included four massive cisterns holding water for the palace. 

On the lower ground around the base of the mound, there was a more extensive palace, with baths, pools and other entertainments.

Herod's tomb is still being excavated. This is a reconstruction of what the tomb looked like. The tomb lies alongside the theatre on the middle slopes and would have been an impressive monument seen from miles away. 

I can see Herodian from Odette's apartment in Bethlehem and, on a good day, you can see the Dead Sea from Herodian. Quite a monument.