An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli archaeologist, Professor Ehud Netzer, has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 74 B.C. The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew University, Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there. It has long been assumed that Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007.speaks about his discovery of the Tomb of Herod, the Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BCE as a slide shows the tomb along with the monumental, unique hill Herod built for his palace built some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones.Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007.speaks about his discovery of the Tomb of Herod, the Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BCE as a slide shows the tomb along with the monumental, unique hill Herod built for his palace built some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones.Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007.speaks about his discovery of the Tomb of Herod, the Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BCE as a slide shows the tomb along with the monumental, unique hill Herod built for his palace built some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones.Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007.speaks about his discovery of the Tomb of Herod, the Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BCE as a slide shows the tomb along with the monumental, unique hill Herod built for his palace built some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones.Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007, shows a red stone decorated with a rosette that is part of his discovery of the Tomb of Herod. The Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BC, built the monumental fortress some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Professor Ehud Netzer during a press conference in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Tuesday, 08 May 2007, shows a red stone decorated with a rosette that is part of his discovery of the Tomb of Herod. The Roman-appointed King of Judea from 37 BC to 4 BC, built the monumental fortress some 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem in the Judean Desert. The approach to the tomb was via a 6.5-meters-wide staircase, however the mausoleum itself was almost totally dismantled in ancient times, leaving behind only part of its podium built of large white ashlars, or dressed stones. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Pillars are seen at the site of the mountain fortress of Herodium, where Israeli archaeologists say they have found King Herod's tomb near the West Bank town of Hebron, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

View of the mountain fortress of Herodium, where Israeli archaeologists say they have found King Herod's tomb near the West Bank town of Hebron, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

View of the mountain fortress of Herodium, where Israeli archaeologists say they have found King Herod's tomb near the West Bank town of Hebron, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Journalist and tourists gather around the the podium, or base, of what Israeli archaeologists say is King Herod's tomb, at the mountain fortress of Herodium, near the West Bank town of Hebron, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Journalist and tourists gather around the the podium, or base, of what Israeli archaeologists say is King Herod's tomb, at the mountain fortress of Herodium, near the West Bank town of Hebron, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Journalist and tourists gather around the the podium, or base, of what Israeli archaeologists say is King Herod's tomb, at the mountain fortress of Herodium, near the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90

Journalist and tourists gather around the the podium, or base, of what Israeli archaeologists say is King Herod's tomb, at the mountain fortress of Herodium, near the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Tuesday, May 8, 2007. An Israeli archaeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, at a hilltop compound south of the city, the Hebrew University announced. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi /Flash90