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    Herods Buildings

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    lara
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    CHAPTER 8 Herod’s Buildings INTRODUCTION Several important studies of Herod have given due weight to his buildings, ‘The reason is obvious: his buildings represent an enduring aspect to his career— observable today to even casual observers—and are the most easly appreciated aspect of his volatile and not always admired life. The buildings are stunning in their size, boldness, and complexity. In addition to non-technical appreciations of his work by icholars of Herod, an enormous amount of archaeological work has been done on his projects, usually because of thei significance as examples of Second Temsle Jewish structures, A few persons, most notably Ehud Netzer, have both an archaeological and architectural interest in his work, and this has resulted in som? fine studies of individual projects." Herod's building activity can be approached from the point of view of geographic locstion, building type, chronological development, methods, ma- terials, and stewsegy "all of which T will comment on befire yuunmarizing his work. Herod was not a megalomaniac advancing his own reputation—though this may be tru> in part—but he had clear and leger goals for advancement of Judaism in the Mediterranean world (GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION Following this chapter, Appendix A’s list of Herod's projects is categorized primarily according to location; these projects covered most regions of the eait- eld notes of Viel Yan in 1, Individual projects: for example, Nee’ ting of the Geld wel ‘he oficial fal pubiation of Maids Studies of Herod: Shalt devotes about seventy ive pages to them, Gant covers the ground in par of ve chapters, Pvowne gives overall of four chapters te his bung A recent intoduction to New Testament archaology by J. MeRay ha fou fll chapters surveying Herod's structures, 174 Herod's Buildings 175 em Roman Empire from Idumaea to Epirus (western Greece), including many intervening provinces and several islands of the Aegean. One obvious and one ot so obvious feature emerge: frst, a great deal of his building activity focused ‘on his own region, especially Jerusalem and Judea; and second, there was no uniform pattern of distribution and there are some areas where there was no building at all (6¢e maps 5 and 6). ‘To begin with the second issue first, contrary to expectations, Herod did ‘not build farther west than the western coast of Greece. He was close to Aus ggustus and dependent on Rome; he made several trips there; his male children were educated there; he had close frends there: these reciprocal contacts might have spawned an outburst of creative activity in the capital city. While one inscription might give evidence of a direct or indirect interes in a synagogue in Rome (see Appendix B), nothing dependable points to aly Roman projects, He probably thought of lay as Augustus and Marcus Agrippa's special field of action; certainly Ttaly was not an ideal place for Herod to parade his benefae- tions. More surprisingly, Herod sponsored no projects in North Africa, inchuding Egypt and Alexandria, After the deaths of Cleopatra and Antony there was litle hindrance to such projects, unless Egypt's special relationship to the Emperor required care that one not appear to tamper in its affairs. Perhaps special factors in Herod’s relationship with Egyptian Jews militated against benefactions, though there is no evidence of general strains or tensions, Herod built in many other eastern provinces, though not in Macedonia, Galatia, Pontus and Bithynia, Cyprus, Crete, or Cappadocia (the latter still 4 dependent kingdom under his ffiend Archelaus), and relatively little in Asie there is no recorded benefaction to Ephesus). Nor did Herod bestow his largess ‘on any of the non-incorporated neighbors: Thracia. Commagene, Nabatea, Ar ‘menia, or Parthia. The literary evidence shows no buildings in the Decapolis «ities, including Hippos and Gadara, that were under his contro fora substantial part of his reign, In his home territories, i is surprising that there are few benefictions in Galilee, Gaulanits, and the adjacent regions, and relatively few in Peraea, (1) Herod's early career and his reputation were made in Galile, and he might hhave recalled his glory days there through attention to noteworthy sites, He did not. Even Sepphoris benefited litte, according to both the literary and the archaeological record. (2) The common view that Galilee was a hotbed of dis. sent requiring control through force is contradicted by the fact that there is no record of any fortreses or fortified palaces having been built there. Herod’, building activity indicates that Galilee must have been relatively quiet. 3) It ‘would have been politic to locate public works projects in Galilee to strengthen its finances (as 1 shall argue is one of his motives); their absence suggests that 176 Herod such support was either unnecessary or undesirable. In Gaulaits and the adj Cent soins ann Pere the set sma ut les clea, ‘There was more building activity in Kdumaea. The suggestion has been ‘made that there was large amount of building activity in Wumaea in the shape of forts or “forges”; altogether about thirty oF 50 sites have been proposed in various studies. Though this estimate is incorrect in my view, ifeven a small portion are to b> attabuted to Herod, were these fortlets for defense of Herod and his holding, for intimidation of Idumaeans, for protection fom Nabatea or Egypt? Until a more precise lit of Herodian projects can be drawn up, and a pattem of fortts sen, i is imposible to sy. In general, he majority of Herod's buildings were to be found in the heart- land of his ow teritory in Jensalem and Judea and Samaria, inching the coast lands. There was a surprising paucity of work in Galilee, Gaulanits, and Peraea, with the evidence for Mdunaea still uncertain. There was a wide distri bution of work =xtending as far as Greece, but nothing in the wester or south= «mn portions of he empire. “The pte fis thee posible explanatory ations, (1) These areas in- cluded the core ofthe late-Helleistc world (excepting the absence of Macedo- nia) and may have been just the aeas where a patron such as Herod would get special credit fo his work. 2) They formed the eastern portion of the Empire in the eatly days of Augustus and represented a region of potential influence that would enhance Judea's stability. (3) Ie was here (excepting Alexandria and Rome, the two largest cites of the Empire) that che greatest concentrations of Diaspora Jews vere found In the fist rationale, this was where his buildings would be most appreci- ated, inthe second where he could build most profitably and with last rik of treading on August's toes in the third where his involvement would be the most beneficial 0 world Judaism. The decision to say away from areas not yet integrated imo phe Empire, such as Thrace and Commagene, may have been a political decision not to tamper with delicate political alliances” Whether any of these explanations, or some combination of all of chem, ison the matk cannot be knovin. That some explanation is needed, however, is hinted at by Josephus: "Ofien, however, [Herod's] noble generosity was thwarted by the fear of exciting either jealousy or the suspicion of entertaining some higher ambition, in ccnferring upon states greater benefit chan they received from their own masters” (War 1.428). This comment of Josephus’ helps provide an explanation ofthe absence of projects in a numberof areas. 2 See the geocral comments in Suilvan, New Ease Royal, pp 9-24; Mil, Raman Neer ar, chaps. 1-2; A Lino, Inperion Roman, Pais and Admini, (Landon and New Yor Routed, 1993), Pat Herod's Buildings 177 MAJOR PROJECTS Herod's benefactions cover a diverse range of projects. Some can be known in great detail from both literary and archaeological descriptions (Masada, Hero. dium, Caesarea Maritima); some from literary description but not from archae~ ological investigation (Antonia Fortress, Jerusalem Palace); some. fom archaeological excavations that are ignored inthe literary remains (water works, ‘Temple of Apollo in Rhodes). The farther away from Jerusalem the project is the less that is known, for Josephus and his sources are less interested in these and less knowledgeable. One clas of benefictions—those to cites or regions in the Hellenistic world—is unknown in any detail. Litle can be said about these. All ate outside Herod's territory and only ‘one, Balanea in Syria, is at all near. Included area few cities (Phaslis in Lycia, Pergamum, Athens, Nicopolis, Olympia) and several provinces, regions, or i lands (Cilicia, Lycia, lonia, Lacedaemon [Sparta], Rhodes, Chios, Samos). We have no detail at all about many. Athens is mentioned in passing (War 1.425), yet there are three inscriptions (ce Appendix B) naming Herod—two from the Agora and one from the Acropolis—all three attesting a benefaction, Three «cases are especially interesting, Josephus says that Herod built the majority of the public buildings at Nicopolis, which was founded by Augustus to celebrate his victory at Actium in 31 nce over Antony and Cleopatra (War 1.425; nt 16.147). Silent as the excavations are on this point, Herod may have felt it appropriate to give dramatic force to his decision, late in the day, to support Octavian, According to Josephus (War 1.424), Herod made donations at Rhodes on several occasions for shipbuilding and on one occasion to the restox ration of the recently-burnt Temple of Pythian Apollo. These contributions began in 40 ace (Ant, 14.378) and continued well beyond 31 act, following his meeting with Octavian. At Olympia (War 1.42627: Ant. 16 149) Herod endowed the games ata point when they had fillen on hard times, parly per- haps as a result of the earthquake of 36 act; he may have contributed to the restoration of the buildings, though the literature and inscriptions are silent New cities were his most dramatic projects; all were in his own territory. ‘The most remarkable were Caesarea Maritima—built on a Hellenistic site but $0 expanded as to make it unrecognizable—and Sebaste, built on the site of ancient Samaria, the capital city ofthe northern kingdom of Isral (see below), Others were less grand but significant: his rebuilding of Agrippias (Anthedon), the new foundations of Antipatris (Aphek)* and of Phaselis (Fa. ‘syli), He established new military setlements, villages, oF towns around which 3. See WD. Dinsmoer, "An Archeological Earthquake t Olympia AJA series 2, 45 (194) 390-427 M. Lanner, “Eine Propsana-Aksion ds Kongs Heroes in Olin” a Perpelion ‘4 Sprvisncha Schorndor olin, 1973), pp. 160-73, ACNEAEHL 167-72, 178 Herod he setled denrobilized veterans of his armies, presumably with civic structures though probsbly of a minor character. Those known ate Gaba (Sha‘ar ha- "Amagim on the Plain of Esdraelon),’ Pente Komai (“Five Villages,” just north of Sebaste, where he probably settled six thousand colonists; War 1.405), Bath- yra (in Batanca), and Heshbon (Hesban, in Peraea), There were military colo- nists in other areas (for example in Idumaea; see War 2.55), but no details survive. These colonies derived from a combination of need, availability of land, and stra-egic location.* Herod had large royal estates (Plain of Esdraelon, ‘Western Samitia, Idumaea) or new land available to distribute (eg., Batanea, Peraea),’ which helped to shape theit location.” ‘Some of the same genera factors applied also to Antipatris, Agrippias, and Phaselis. The latter case is a good example.’ Herod prized his huge royal estates in the Jeriche area, from which he derived a substantial income." A new city to the north af Jericho, extensively itigated, would have stimulated new ag- ricultural developments to complement Jericho's riches and encourage new ‘rade, 1¢ was on an important north-south transportation route, eaily accessible to Jerusalem, ‘Antipatris and Agrippias were also close to Herodian estates; Agrippias pro- vided another (minor) outlet to the sea between Gaza and Ashkelon, Antipatris ‘was a new town in the Sharon plain astride the main route between Jerusalem and Caesarea Maritima, with the added advantage that it was near the royal estates in Sarcartis at Qiryat Bene Hassan." ‘Caesarea Maritima and Sebaste were the most significant in complexity, size, and stratsgic importance. Caesarea Maritima was Herod's showpiece city: it was a major outlet to the Mediterranean, home for the Judean navy, the largest harbor in the Mediterranean. It rearranged trade pattems in the area. Produce, tads, and people flowed in both directions; it was a city where Helle- nistic and Ronan ideals jostled with Jewish convictions, where Roman, Greek, Jew. Nabatean, and Egyptian would rub shoulders daily The city cavered 164 acres and induded a large number of state-sponsoted or royal structures: the 5. NEAERL «139-1, 6. Note the socal importance of lind allocation in Haly by Mari, Soll, Pompey. Jalos 7. Agin ete dhe snare to the ways in which land was feed and dite to demobbed '8. On roya estes se Fen, Sil Hy, chap. 2, pp. 2448S. Applebaum, “The Sele ‘ment Pater of Westen Samar,” in S. Da, with 3 hitoncal commentry by S. Applebaun, Landsape and Pte. An AnatlgalSarey of Samia, 800 2.6.2-636 8, (Oxford BARS, 1986), 9, Regpeway it ha not been excavated, But vst these iamedhtely tums up evidence othe ci, 10. Stbo, Ge 16.2.4, emphanies the wea ofthe pls, is, an bam products. 1. See Fen, Sal Huy, pp 38-82; NEAENL4.1316-18, 1. NEABHL 1270-91 apd ieratre cted thet. Herod's Buildings 179 harbor itself with its installations and warehouses; water and sewage ficilties; walls; gates; streets agora; hippodrome; theater; amphitheater; Promontory Pal- ace; and the Temple of Roma and Augustus hovering over the whole at the focal point of the harbor. Sebaste was different, symbolically valuable as the ancient capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Temple of Roma and Augustus in Sebaste was built directly over the old royal palaces of King Ahab, perhaps intended to make explicit the symbolic succession. Like Caesarea, Sebastes new name and temple paid homage to Augustus; in both cities Herod could be less careful of local religious sensibilities. Sebaste was similar in size to Caesarea; thouigh less complex, it covered 160 acres that included among state-fnanced projects walls, gates, streets, aqueducts, agora, hippodrome, theater, and the Temple of Roma and Augustus." FORTRESSES AND PALACES ‘The most dramatic of Herod's buildings, heavily overlaid with legend and well preserved in the archaeological record, Herod's fortresses were places of «drama and excitement. Several variant types can be distinguished. (1) Walls. In a few cases Herod built or restored walls of cities: Caesarea Maritima, Sebaste, Jerusalem and—outside his terrtory—Byblos. He may also have built walls in number of other places, not yet clearly established. 2) Forteses primarily, The literary and archaeological records do not always allow certainty, but the follow- ing should be thought of mainly as fortresses: the Antonia in Jerusalem, Masada, Cypros, Docus, Alexandreion, Hyrcania, Machaerus, and perhaps also Hero. dium East (in Peraea). (3) Forteses with generous living quarters. Several of Herod's forts seem oriented more to royal life than to protection: the towers Phases, Hippicus, and Maniamme incorporated into but hovering over the Royal Palace in Jerusalem and, of a quite different order, the Northem Palace at Masada and the Upper Palace at Herodium, near Bethlehem. (4) Forlets or unknown. There may be a series of forlets in Idumaea or Peraea." A fortress call Agrippina Probably occupied the site of the later Crusader fortress at Belvoir; and a fort sill probably occupied the site of Keren Naftali, overlooking Lake Hulch, Esbus (Heshbon) may have functioned as a fortress for part of Herod's reign, Ics often claimed that these forts formed a system defending Herod's bor- ders fiom external attack and providing internal security against the deep hatred of the people, One sequence of fortresses suggests a strong line of externally ‘oriented strongholds, most of which would have been near enough to provide 1B. NEABHL 41300-1310, 44, See A. Kash. Jos, Iman: and Ain! Anas (Tobie: JC. B. Moh 988, p. 15, ‘which shows security el (ab p. 154m 64, and erature etd thee), 180 Herod internal security if needed: Masada, Machaerus, Hyrcania, Cypros-Docus, Alexandreion, and perhaps Agrippina. All were within signalling distance of each other, exily defended, and extremely strong. Three factors modify this view, (1) Without exception these forts went back to Maccabean foundations, ‘when the need for this particular line of defense was pressing. Theit genius, ‘especially their brilliant locations, was Maccabean. The literary and historical evidence confirms that the Hasmoneans were more in need of defense and ‘more anxious zbout security than Herod. Herod restored, refurbished, modemn- ized, and improved them—especially the water systems and royal apartments— bbut these were his establishments in neither location nor purpose. (2) In Herod's ay this line of defense made little sense. Though some of the forts played a strategic role in the frst days of Herod's rule," forthe majority ofhis reign they ‘were irrelevant as fortresses. The Jordan valley was not the natural border it had been in earlier days and there was no need for a major defensive line at that point, since he controlled almost the whole of the adjacent territory east of the Jordan (Peraca."* (3) In refurbishing them, the archacology makes clea, aten- tion was paid to the living amenitis.”” While they were fortified and in ex- tremely strong positions (Hyreania, Machaerus, and Masada, along with Herodium, were the last fortresses to fall in the Gfeat Revolt), in Herod's day they were manly wilderness retreats that could be used in an emergency as places of refuge, with basic royal amenities for an enjoyable vist fone needed solitude. Their remote locations also encouraged their use for executions. ‘At Jerusalem and Jericho there was a sequence of structures: in both cases the earliest Herodian palace was a reconstruction of a Hasmonean palace, super= seded in both places by a purpose-built palace, in Jericho two later palaces. The Hasmonean pelace at Jericho was the largest of the three, but the lst of them, now known as the Winter Palace, is demonstrably the most interesting. At Jerusalem the later Royal Palace was a vast affir with twa large wings, raieed ‘on a podium to create a platform for the requisite structures, gardens, and pools, and overlooked by three great towers to the north.” 1S, Alecandition wat rebuilt by Pherors in 39/38 8. 16. Note tha Heros chen, Antipas and Philip, were the ones construct walt sever ‘iti Seppo this, Pai, etharanphhe Jukes. 18-27-28, 17. There wer tong pins of snilarity among thee, They timed ther ack othe exterior. “There was an interior cout around which ving and service fees were arranged: Mach aten= tion was paid to the collection of water and there was sometimes provision fra bath complex “There were afew imaginative clement in the design, with some pacous touches in the way the deuign wat came out™coluring, apts, paved courtyard, fesco work, succoed architectural decoration, and the ike. Bat there is le evidence fiers monic, elaborate etco wot, oF spaces designed for plesurble purpores, though some ofthat typeof werk is present, especially Maada's Nonhers Palace 18. See E. Newer, NEAEHL 2682-92. 19, Bre dtrption by H, Geva, NEAEHL 2.736, with bertre cited on pp. 786-57, Herod's Buildings 181 Inde in aldon the pte ati ; pleat eich, was Hem on of Her o's mox napitve sets sored gue etheee eet se csr round the ban te al, ke ee pace lnemedte ale n he Lowe Pes ean oe Herod's favorite places, a retreat neat Jerusalen sree ‘Jerusalem with facilities suitable for large In unas: Mads own fom bo wer two man ples the cae Wes slong wh sever manor edn en cao, but the Nore Pace ws iar the oly own pale, On the cont land adutet ts Seen Maria har een been recneronee of palace but perpen th Cae thee 17271 of th literature and archaeology. There tn Palace and the Northern Palace, bles. Both main palaces were signi e interesting architecturally." In Sa ‘more ofa fort, was at Alexandreion, the Promontory Palace at Caesarea ind provides excellent new evidence Showed up-to-date technology in a coherent solution. The four togetnes er 2 good cate fora ge achtecural geste oka ey nis behind Herod ung Al oe seed» ste most paton: would ave shied ay Hons a if disadvantages into an opportunity to show off with Aan, taginason ed 25 Ne ial 3 Oe: el apron Se, 1 ced fom Jeph commen that wr Rage oa ‘Th weld oni te xr vw tha ration wa mes pen eee a 22. See A.G. MacKay, Howe, Vilas and Paes iat) i. nd Places in the Roman Wold (London: Thames and 182 Herod ‘The Northem Palace at Masada is the most obvious example; it occupied a knife-edge with three platforms spread over a thitty-five meter (110 foot) vertical drop—the top platform being semi-circular, the middle circular, and the lowest rectangular” It opened out on a view 2s spectacular as any villa anywhere -n the Roman world, looking north up the Rift valley, east to the Dead Sea, and west to the wilderness, Less obviously dramatic, until one thinks about its rain use in the winter months, was the Winter Palace at Jericho, set ‘on both sites of the Wadi Qelt with the two sides mirroring each other and connected by a bridge over the wadi.® The flair lay in the rejection of the ‘obvious sclution—build near the oasis with its natural advantages of water, warm winver weather, abundant fruits and vegetables. Instead, like the Hasmo- rneans befere him, Herod built away fom the oasis, so that water had to be ‘brought by aqueduct from up the wadi. The drama came from the opportuni- ties inherest in having a torrent pass under the bridge whenever it rained in the hills east of Jerusalem On the north side of the wadi was a fine villa, on the south side 3 magnificently executed garden, a huge pool, and an artificial ‘mound with a splendid gazebo, perhaps with a small bath complex, the whole taking advantage of views ofthe oasis and the Dead Sea In the Upper Palace at Herodiun the flair was in making a hill appear to bbe an attfcial mound, constructing a circular palace to suit the conical top, with views of both wildemess and agricultural land just at the border line be- tween “desert and sown,” incorporating public and private spaces, together with a simll bath.® The structure was designed for use as Herod's mausoleum after his death, The palace most recently excavated, the Promontory Palace at Cacsarea Maritima, combined several features of the Northern Palace and the ‘Winter Palace; it was focussed on a pool and was anchored to the shore by various se-vice ficilties around a large colonnaded courtyard; at the western ea) end there were public or entertaining areas with a huge semi-circular vantage point to catch the sunset. These were the best—pethaps the orly—true villas in Israel. Though large farmsteads have been discovered, there is litle evidence that the elite in Jerusa- Jem (quite wealthy, to judge from houses in Jerusalem) built country houses Ba. The top level the entrance) ha living space, the mide evel ils contovesil mate) probably was 4 whimsical crole gazebo, and the lowet level was the mai rezeat ae, with 2 fall thce-om bath complex ticked out almost in mid-sir ndemeath the Sooe level See [eter Made vl 3, Pare IV, 24, Newer, “Jecho: Talal Abu eL“Abyig." NEAEHL 2.682-91, 25. The old view thatthe whole hill acl, often repented in moder books, simply fie The aifciliy appear fom the way, once the man stracrre’s ing et ba, 5 wa placed round it to smooth the train fom hl vo bung hs seeming v0 fine off the natural il ‘nan obvogsly “arf” anne, perfect “brea” a ore 26. Burl, K, Geson, and & Never, "Uncovering Hero's Seaside Pace,” RAR 19/3 (9993) 50-52, 76 Herod’s Buildings 183 fr their laure and relation. Unie the oh Unlike dhe other end of the Enpire—Ga, ‘Germany, Britain, and Spain, where the local elites delighted aie xed in Jude, Sarr, and Gale. More renalale Hower knee of the dramatic elements in these Herodian structures, notably the vertical e 4 Mass Norn Pe, read spe ne Reon See tse oftound elements wat another disncve clement in Hes fe cay sob was Hern soand sacar te be wake ce ‘echoing the great Mausoleum of August {eho the great Mausoleum of Augustus in Rome, whore date may well be Heo vl were technology wp-0-e na, gua Cm file ith as ah rel ah fl Romar be oe contin no decraive ete ofting aint te wooed conde though one mi have expected hi outhmsch inks pe parently the lack of such art reflects his personal commitment to Judaism." * Exch thse cesta coher slants bony oh hal lng: ach wa inal rp, top eer wee intended fr publi or seme ocean, Each eed bn refined hand at work, sensitively responding to the mixture of personal, public, steel, and evn calenges Ea eed oe tose sn pp view (Nore Pace) cope ete caine 4) con (Upper Pal) or amar ce eee ye Hoyle frat my ave hada dunce oe seg eke cneinmen ad otc petal cn a ae RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS The Upper Palice at Herdiam a, none sense, 3 religious buing—i was a mausalum, Consistent wit hk poet ugh irr ne dale lerod built another circular structure asa family mausoleum in Jerusalem, jure north ofthe Damascus Gat,” which has much in common wiih Aegan imaeleum in Rome but pre-dates t Inthe sequence of ge, tana ly tog he Heed oe cone eh hn hetero a needy point in his career (Ant. 16. 179-84). de The nan caps compro o Mads Tie via wo the cliff face; itis forty or fifty years later. z oo 2 hen aed htm some a i it the cl pol toned «mie Mad ant rors to memion ve. eonet th ads oat ndenantng snc re 29. B Netzer, “Remains of an Opus Rese ath of am Opus Redculatum Bualng in Jrsalem,” ff 39 (1983) 230. Enthussicaly but indecively, H. Shank, (1998) 62-67 ls Ths King David's Tomb?," BAR 21/1 184 Herod In Hebron, Herod built a kind of maquette for the Temple in Jerusalem, ‘memorial for the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Re- becea, Jacob and Leah), the Haram al-Khalil. He built a similar memorial to Abraham just no-th of Hebron at Mamte, recalling the oaks that were located there according t> the Bible. Located in Idumaea, both structures demonstrated an aspect of the early phases of Herod’ religious program: he recalled common, antecedents of bcth Idumacans (Edomites) and Israelites." In undertaking these projects he walked a fine line between those Idumaeans who, like his own family, had embraced Judaism and those who remained attracted to the old Edomite traditions He also participated in a Temple to Ba’al Sh (Qanawat, on the Jebel Druze). The evidence for this (ce Appendix B) was found on a statve base with an inscription in the remains of the porch, He probably contributed financially to the project,” thus indicating an accommo- dation with Nabatean religious interests, Herod's prirvary interest, with the exception of the Temple in Jerusalem, was the Imperial cult, for which he built three temples to Roma and Augustus.” fone in Caesarea Maritima dominating the harbor and city center, one in Sebaste at the highest point of the city, and one in Panias alongside the grottoes dedi- cated to the god Pan.” From his confirmation as king in 31 nce, Herod main- tained a consistent loyalty to Augustus, to which he gave visible form with these three temples. He chose sites that were unlikely to offend: Strato’s Tower, a long-time Hellenistic city, renamed Caesarea; Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom, renamed Sebaste; and Panias, long associated with the pagan god Pan, That there is no recollection of disputes over these temples indicates the success of his choices of sites." All of these cites must have had a substancial number of Jews, who accommodated themselves, presumably, to this homage to the Emperor. Since the Jerusalem Temple offered prayers to God on behalf nat Si'a, near Canatha ‘I. The primary berate gives no indication of ether a Heroin projects, though the con struction evidence it unmistakable. These are good examples ofthe United nature ofthe berry record 532. The syle aed srscture are eypicaly Nabutean, unlike anything ee that Herod wat ine ‘volved ino developed on is owe : 33, Avgostor ised that temples fr the cule dedicated to Roma and him together He prohibited Emperor wonkhip in Rome ive, though he allowed tin other prt, epecaly in the [M4 Theft two ave been identified in excavations the lat currenly being aed in on ning excvstion. The excavator ofthe Pan caver beiver hat the Temple to Roma snd August ‘sthe gest of the sll emplesbcked up ait the ci within which ae caves and numerous Smnepion 0 Pan, though thi cen likey tome 138. Ant 15.365 could allude to dickies in 20 nce when Hero remitted taxes to win back peopl’ fv, ot by eenement athe dolution of elghn and the diopperrince of extort 'st00 geneal obese Herod's Buildings 185, of the Emperor daily, i could be argued that the temples of Roma w. an extension of that provision for homage to Augustes, 2 Sy that Herod rod he Ten of Pen Arco a du 1614 nan ta eign rnp te ee bs en etn excatd and poy reer teak en ea son hy andi ha ne ee Sk Aelia only ace compe ee eek Acropolsn Rhodes, including ado, odeum, and cree nage ja mm te itis eno ie ae ee ed the priestly hierarchy of its viability, even gaining their. ‘agreement to. Se tg mma’ ae le in ana amen pes hae pd ke he pc cated wh he wonhip Cnet utr, “The Sci Hr Sgiticance for Gentes and Women of Her. ‘o's Temple Architecture,” in. Halligan on J Haligan and Phitp Daves, dk, Seond Temple Sten ea 186 Herod shun people were put out of wok 2 ct hat ped to et he ea sak aero op = Tie Ten wn len hugh ina it cs se ol oe sovcne to Sagi oid forte es The cre Hered uit no sgn oud ong cold ve sen Thee cps hs ed at) Te wa tee nig fom he Sat aan ig he Ge Reo ‘mate sagen ab hve howe» opi, aio, thee age mi hve bec acne with eds wo Mand") A gneny inerpin hth ening ones, fom he Josh oto n Rome Con bere rer os "Syrgape ofthe Hentai oe tee Tew wa een nsome naps he ngs patton ped " Herod's buildings allow preliminary judgments on Herod’s religious = sm He wt eco the Tel, epg sand rt ng hag ure neon He ed Sc Mtr! an the ed me fy crate to August wa sma a songs comet 0 Yl wheat rca ha bgt er ga ith ioe ign eho comtued 6 ety fr xo BS Shani yn Apolo epson Shi, pts ol im Olympia and Na ee Say, CULTURAL BUILDINGS heater, baths, and gyi were “heats, hippodromes, sadn, amphitheater, ris wat pean ce gh reg ee Pao estan pes came from the actives el in och places (matic event games 5 cis mae compen oo se on he Ss ofthe bling hh gre cron ct fel pore prt eed te quis hte of he ve at ook Flee thre That Herod built number of sich sactres pore power sh world, yet it had had Jertlem sche mos sense place in the Jewish world ye a inna nce before the Hamonean seve of 165 ace (1 Mace 4-15) Inches ss ha Herod ik hese, pdr a a pith ‘The teers located on the north dope of Eras (he south ide of Wai cs Shamma few hundied mets south ofthe Hon Valley, where it hada Jeo Newer, Masada, vol, 3, discusses the poibiles and concludes that its orginal Heroin annie res ere Herod's Buildings 187 view of the whole south wall ofthe city An amphitheater is once referred to by Josephus and a hippodrome twice (Ant. 15.268 for the former; War 2.44 and Ant 17.255 for the latter), though he may be sloppy in his terminology and nay merely refer to the same structures." The last two passages are incidental references to Pentecost pilgrims (4 nct) being located south of the city. Josephus Probably confuses hippodrome and amphitheater in these three passages it seems likeliest that Herod built an amphitheater—possibly a hippodrome-—on a flat site southwest of the city, not yet identified. ** {In ewo of Herod's favorite places, Herodium and Jericho, he built similar facilities, in both cases developing unorthodox solutions. Just below the Inter. ‘mediate Palace at Herodium he constructed a “course” of some kind, on axis with an important but mysterious “monumental building,” No analogy exists for this combination of structures." At Jericho he combined a hippodrome-like “course” with a theater-like building at one end, so that the viewing area wat not along the sides, as in a hippodrome or stadium, but from the starting or finishing end.** These two unique solutions to 3 vate palaces, where the public would not 3 traditional structures were provided, Examples of public arenas can be seen at Caesarea Martima, where the Herodian hippodrome has been excavated parallel to the sea shore. It was damm aged by wave action from the Mediterranean (it was built too close), and was hater filled in and covered over. A new hippodrome was subsequently built on the eastside of the city. Just south of the hippodrome Herod built a theate and in the northeast part ofthe city an amphitheater can be detected, though it pectacles were at his own pri- tend. For public purposes more 40, The shape ofthe caves can sil be seen. Tet hoes in the nineteenth century confmed the ideation, but no seni exavation hasbeen ced out. On theaters eA Sel Arh athe Thee nts rung the Reman ond Bene Pn se Une ok Hs Pre, 1990, 41. Ant 15.268 dings the “amphitheater fom ander han the “hese” He locates the former in the “pi.” probably to be understood 3 the Rephuim Pin, sou eee omy proper 42, dnt. 15, 268-91 incomecty wes the word teaton for contests spiel canied om ina bippodrome, sadam, amphitheater. or gyrmasiar, but not ina then nthe “eophies incident the structure im question wat for animal conten (15.274), suggesting strongly tat the wrod building—where the ropies were hung—was an amphitheater 43. There was no obvious provision for viewing ates for this cue, though the Imermedkte and Upper Palaces provided vanage points suggesting 3 "prvte® prpose, ‘44. The theater ke stuctre at Jericho was, unchatactenstall made of md brick The side andrew fice formed 2 ectange not semi-cicie sin other thee bulk om 1 Bate cresting space athe rear of the caves. The siti almost on axis with the Winter Palace, thgh s ed Atance noth of 45. The excvator concluded thatthe eres phate of this much rebuethester was Herodian, ‘The mow recent excavations stem to imply that the hippodtome and palace, and powiby she ‘hester, formed a cael acusted io of building, 188 Herod is unexcavated, At Sebaste there was a Herodian phase of the still visible the- ater and a stadinm carved at one end into the hill on which the city sits. ‘Herod built a bath at Ashkelon, gymnasia in Ptolemais, Tripolis, and Damascus, and theaters in Sidon and Damascus (in Damascus the location of the theater can be determined fom the semi-circular street pattern to the south of the ‘Omayyed Mosqu: and on one side of “Straight Street") ‘Three statements summarize Herod’s cultural building projects, (1) Herod. built cultural factities mostly in places where religious proclivities would not cause problems—hellenized cites in his own areas and Hellenistic cities else- ‘where. (2) His atraction to these buildings prompted him to experiment with novel forms in piaces where only he and his guests used them. (3) The two such structures he: built in the Holy City expressed his cultural convictions at the center of Judaism, but he located them outside the city and minimized thei offense by using 2 limited decorative vocabulary. COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Some large-tcale constructions were intended to promote trade.” The ‘most important was Caesarea Martima with its enormous harbor installations, ‘warehouse facilities, commercial space, and the like. Smaller but analogous facilities were provided in other new cities, especially Sebaste (atthe center of a rich agricultural area), but aso in Agrippias, Antipatss, Phaselis, and others, In Jerusalem, the Temple reconstruction provided for commercial activity along. the streets adjacect to the Temple retaining walls Whether other parts of the city also had state-sponsored shopping or commercial facilities is not certain. ‘Two sites deserve special mention. (1) To the north of the Winter Palace at Jericho was a duster of buildings whose purpose has not yet been fully clari- fied; likely they constituted a manufacturing or refining area, connected with the royal estates at Jericho. If confirmed, this fact would imply that Herod maintained a close watch on the products (perfumes, ointments, opobalsam, and date wine) he produced; ifthis could be generalized, it could have repercus- sions on the conunercial and manufacturing activities near his other estates in 6, See JW. Crowlot, "Samana Excavations: The Stain.” PEFQS (1934): 62-73, 2 ites LVL 47, A Sepphot, he theater cut int the north slope of dhe cys il shows fnt-cenry nee evidence, 3coneloion thi cobetes with Josepha’ since. 48, The to-alled trophies incident showed Herod's reserve with epoct to decorative mater, (am 15. 268-99, 49, On the economy in general Z Safa, The Fcnomy of Roman Palen (London: Routed, 199 5, idence fr shops is quite cent along the south wal (blow the temace atthe lh ‘Gwe, under the mas pier supporting the outer end ofthe sata “Robinsons ch" ad long pars ofthe set bese the Wesern Wal Herod's Buildings 189 ‘western Samaria, the Plain of Esdraelon, [dumaea, and so on. (2) En Bogeq, at the southwest comer of the Dead Sea, had a small industrial installation produc- ing pharmaceuticals and cosmetics" nothing connects it directly with Herod himself, but itis possible—perhaps even probable—that he had a finger in that pie too, Under the procurators the area was an Imperial estate; perhaps it already ‘wat a royal prerogative under Herod. ‘Outside his own territories, Herod provided benefactions for commercial facilites at four locations, intended no doubt to impress upon citizens his inter- est in trade and commerce, At Tyre and Berytus he constructed “halls, portcoes, land matkets” (exedias de kai stoas ... kai agoras, War 1.422), referring in part to commercial activity. At Antioch he repaved the main street and fitted it with colonnades—thus introducing the fist covered shopping street, In Chios he rebuilt a stoa destroyed by Mithidates, possibly, but not certainly, a storehouse. Herod's commercial and manufacturing interests show intriguingly in his dealings with the shipbuilding industry at Rhodes. Josephus’s allusions to these dealings seem to indicate wo related things:* benefactions in general to support the industry itself in whatever way was appropriate and, following the con- struction of a triteme, giving his business to Rhodes when he needed large ‘warships. Tse the modem term “infrastructure” to cover state projects: roads, sew- cers, reservoirs, and aqueducts are the most obvious needs. Herod was involved in far more of this type of work than the literary record tells us (ince most ancient authors are not interested in such matters) or than we can infer from archacology—the projects are not readily datable. There isno hint inthe litera~ ture that Herod built roads, yet itis inconceivable that he was inactive on this front, given his new cities, relations with neighboring states, interest in trade and the economy. His extensive harbor facilities at Caesarea Maritima were undoubtedly state-funded; he probably provided minor harbor facilities else- where, 25 at Anthedon-Agrippias or Joppa Clearly visible in the archaeological record, and occasionally in the literary record, are provisions for water and sewage. The concer for waste removal at (Caesarea Maritima is commented on by Josephus, who describes it as an engi- neering marvel There were sewers below the Temple court in Jerusalem, 51, M. Gichon, “En Boge.” NEAEHI 2395-99 52. The sev eigialy wos» lng storehouse for grain rid are cleatly mean marker place 53. At Ia 280 he comnions the bung of» eeme to take im to Uy in 40 cx. At War 1426 te provides fonds ci mautiton ("for shipbulng”); 2¢ An 16.147 pos naipigion (or shiping" 54, Shipbuilding sho have been excavated slong the arbor Rhodes, though ot fom this period fl report never appeared. 35. The ve and lof the Medieranean Hue out he ce sewer sytem, according to Am 1s 190 Herod where the sacrificial cult created a very heavy load of blood and waste that needed to be carried away, and under the street west of the western wall Appropriate attertion was given to similar projects in urban contexts such as Sebaste. ‘Water faciltiss are more obvious today.” In Jerusalem Herod built several ‘major reservoirs, partly for citizens’ needs and more particularly for the Tem- ple’s needs. This was presumably state work at Herod’s direction. The following were in whole ot part Herodian: the Pool of Israel (north of the Temple pre-

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