Archaeologists have discovered a grand entryway, consisting of a series of massive arches, at King Herod’s hilltop fortress of Herodium in the Judean desert. And there are additional, unexpected finds, writes Tamar Pileggi:
[D]uring the excavations, it became increasingly evident that the corridor and expansive arched entryway was never used. The corridor was back-filled and the entryway was built over. The archaeologists suspect that midway through its construction, Herod—known for the large construction projects undertaken during his reign—decided to build a royal burial monument for himself before his death instead. . . .
The arched corridor also revealed hidden tunnels dug on the site by the Jewish fighters during the Bar Kokhba revolt, about 120 years after Herod’s death. The hidden tunnels, supported by wooden beams, exit the fortress through secret openings in the corridor, and were likely used by Jewish rebels who waged an unsuccessful fight against the Roman occupation of Judea in 132-136 CE.
Read more on Times of Israel: http://www.timesofisrael.com/entryway-to-ancient-hilltop-palace-uncovered-near-jerusalem