Herodium

Fortified city three leagues south of Jerusalem; founded by Herod I. It was built on a rocky and rugged hill. Its citadel contained royal apartments of great strength and splendor, and served as a sarcophagus for Herod. In the times of the Romans Herodium was the chief town of a toparchy; it was one of the last strongholds taken by the army of Vespasian. Herodium is identical with the modern Jabal al-Furaidis, known as the "Frank Mountain," on the top of which the remains of the citadel are still to be seen. It is probable that in Biblical times the site of Herodium was called "Beth-haccerem," as the description of that place given by Jeremiah (vi. 1) coincides with the so-called "Frank Mountain."

Herod founded another fortress to which he gave the same name—Herodium; it was situated in the mountainous region extending toward Arabia.

Bibliography:

  * Robinson, Researches, iii., Appendix, p. 41;
  * Tobler, Topographie von Jerusalem, ii. 565;
  * De Saulcy, Voyage en Terre Sainte, i. 168 et seq.;
  * Schürer, Gesch. i. 390, note 66.



J. I. Br.