Ruled 37–4 BCE·New Testament·Person

Herod the Great and His Tomb

Scripture: Matthew 2; Luke 1:5

Aerial view of Herodium, Herod's fortress-palace near Bethlehem · Photo: Asaf T. · Public domain · Source

The claim

Jesus is born in the days of King Herod, who tries to kill the newborn 'king of the Jews'.

What archaeology found

Herod is well documented through Josephus, coins and his huge building projects: the Temple Mount expansion, Caesarea, Masada and Herodium. In 2007 Ehud Netzer announced he had found Herod's tomb on the slope of Herodium.

Sources

Ehud Netzer, The Architecture of Herod, the Great Builder, Mohr Siebeck (2006)

Verdict history

Nov 10, 2026ConfirmedInitial verdict.