Herod's Palace at Herodium, Ancient royal fortress complex in Judaean Desert, Palestine

Herod's Palace at Herodium is a fortified complex perched on an artificial hill in the Judaean Desert, featuring circular towers, residential buildings, and landscaped gardens arranged across multiple levels. The structures are connected by stone staircases and passages that guide visitors through the various sections of this royal residence.

Herod the Great built Herodium as his own mausoleum, not after a military victory. Josephus records that his body was carried 200 furlongs to be buried there. During the Bar Kokhba revolt (132–135/6 CE), Jewish rebels used the site as a base. In 2007 Ehud Netzer identified a tomb on the northern slope, though the identification remains contested.

The theatre within the palace complex could hold around 650 spectators for performances and entertainment. The painted walls displayed scenes inspired by distant lands, reflecting how the ruler drew on artistic traditions from across the Mediterranean world.

The site lies about 17 km south of Jerusalem's Old City and 6 km from Bethlehem, visible from both. Excavations since 1962 uncovered the upper citadel, bathhouse and theatre; paths between them are steep and uneven, so allow time and wear sturdy shoes. The desert heat is strongest at midday.

The Roman theatre found by Ehud Netzer shortly before his death in 2010 includes a loggia, a box for Herod and officials, above benches for about 650 spectators. Its landscape frescoes depict scenes of Italy and the Nile, suggesting painters were on loan from Caesar in Rome.