Herod’s Tomb
Wednesday, May 9th, 2007The newspapers are reporting the discovery of what appears to be Herod’s tomb in the fortress that he built, Herodium. Archaeologists discovered pieces of an elaborately carved sarcophagus, but no bones or inscriptions indicating who was once interred within it. Nevertheless, the identification might well be correct. At the end of book 1 of his work the Jewish War, Josephus mentions Herod’s burial:
So there was an acclamation made to Archelaus, to congratulate him upon his advancement; and the soldiers, with the multitude, went round about in troops, and promised him their good-will, and besides, prayed God to bless his government. After this, they betook themselves to prepare for the king’s funeral; and Archelaus omitted nothing of magnificence therein, but brought out all the royal ornaments to augment the pomp of the deceased. There was a bier all of gold, embroidered with precious stones, and a purple bed of various contexture, with the dead body upon it, covered with purple; and a diadem was put upon his head, and a crown of gold above it, and a secptre in his right hand; and near to the bier were Herod’s sons, and a multitude of his kindred; next to which came his guards, and the regiment of Thracians, the Germans. also and Gauls, all accounted as if they were going to war; but the rest of the army went foremost, armed, and following their captains and officers in a regular manner; after whom five hundred of his domestic servants and freed-men followed, with sweet spices in their hands: and the body was carried two hundred furlongs, to Herodium, where he had given order to be buried. And this shall suffice for the conclusion of the life of Herod. (Whiston translation)
It is not very surprising not to find the golden accouterments described by Josephus; grave-robbers would have taken these years ago.
The real interesting story here is not the possible discovery of Herod’s tomb but the fact that it entered mainstream media. Historically, the discovery of Herod’s tomb doesn’t really tell us anything; we don’t need more evidence that Herod once lived. Nor do modern religions venerate Herod; he’s made out in many Jewish and Christian texts (perhaps a bit undeservedly) as quite the villain. So why should anyone care?
That people in fact do care about all kinds of archaeological discoveries tangentially related to the Bible and their own faith commitments is both puzzling and fascinating in its own right. Is this a case of craving some material, palpable connection to the past, and/or is there an element of “contagion,” as if being in the presence of such material artifacts brings us close to greatness? (This reminds me of the many houses with plaques that George Washington once slept there.) The Biblical Archaeology Society publishes two periodicals appealing to this desire, but it is the desire itself that deserves further reflection.
