The Architecture of Herod, the Great Builder

Herod the Great, one of the most famous builders of the biblical world, is a name well known to New Testament readers. Recently a team led by Ehud Netzer, a leading Israeli archaeologist of the Herodian period, discovered the tomb of Herod in one of his palaces two thousand years after his death. This volume highlights Herod's personal involvement with and contributions to his building projects, which benefited from his analytical mind, creative imagination, and deep understanding of the building and planning process. In many ways, the book presents the first comprehensive synthesis of Herod's enterprises from architectural and archaeological viewpoints."[Netzer] brings a strong architectural background . . . and intensive archaeological experience . . . to his analysis of Herod's buildings. . . . No one knows Herod's buildings as well as Netzer; he distills what he knows about him in this readable book. He neither talks down to nonarchitects nor uses highly technical vocabulary. . . . Since he has excavated many of the sites himself and has worked extensively with the excavators of most of the others, the study is based on intimate familiarity with Herod and his world. . . . His deft touch in this book will ensure that his views are known more widely to an English-speaking audience, as he provides a near-infallible guide to understanding and appreciating Herod's buildings. . . . This is a book about which one can get quite excited; Netzer has accomplished much in his lengthy career focused on Herod. . . . There is still more to learn about this remarkable ruler and the products of his fertile imagination; Netzer is now the indispensable starting point."--Peter Richardson, Review of Biblical Literature"In assessing Herod's construction projects, Netzer enjoys the advantage of having personally uncovered many of these sites, giving him an intimate familiarity with the subject. . . . Netzer deserves our congratulations for this gargantuan effort, bringing together all of these studies in a single volume in clear and instructive language."--Hillel Geva, Biblical Archaeology Review