Hans Rustad Den israelske arkeologen Ehud Netzer mener han har funnet graven til kong Herodes, som hersket over Judea fra 47 – 4 f.Kr. Det var han som ga ordre om å drepe alle guttebarn i Betlehem under to år for å hindre at en ny konge ble født.
Graven ble funnet på et sted som heter Herodium, sør for Jerusalem, inne på Vestbredden. Det var beskrivelsen av en trapp hos historikeren Josef Flavius som gjorde at Netzer fant graven.
«When I realised it was the tomb there was great happiness,» said Prof Netzer, who has worked at the Herodium site since 1972.
«Everyone has an interest in the Holy Land and Herod’s tomb is part of that story.»
It was an ancient staircase built for Herod’s funeral procession – described in detail by First Century historian Josephus Flavius – that led Prof Netzer’s team to the hill-top burial site.
«The monumental stairs were built specifically for the funeral,» Prof Netzer said.
