Herodion, Herodium (Latin), or Jabal al-Fureidis is an ancient fortress located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Jerusalem and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of Bethlehem. It is located between the villages of Beit Ta'mir, Za'atara and Jannatah. It is identified with the site of Herodium, built by King of Judea Herod the Great between 23 and 15 BCE. Herodium is 758 meters (2,487 ft) above sea level.
Aerial view of the acropolis of Herodium
Upper Herodium, looking south. The columns to the left near the wall belong to the peristyle hall.
"Tel Hordos" area in 1943, in the Survey of Palestine
Remains of the eastern round tower
Herod I or Herod the Great was a Roman Jewish client king of the Herodian Kingdom of Judea. He is known for his colossal building projects throughout Judea. Among these works are the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the expansion of its base—the Western Wall being part of it. Vital details of his life are recorded in the works of the 1st century CE Roman–Jewish historian Josephus.
Herod's Temple as depicted on the Holyland Model of Jerusalem. The expansion of the Temple was Herod's most ambitious project.
Distinctive Herodian masonry at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Massacre of the Innocents, 10th century depiction. Herod on the left.
Aerial photo of Herodium from the southwest
