Page 46 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

In Jerusalem, Herod built new (and larger) city walls, constructed the
Antonia Fortress (named after Mark Antony), and built the Temple itself.
Jewish resentment toward Herod is reflected by the way Jewish
historians refer to Herod’s Temple as a “remodeled” version of the
temple Zerubbabel built during the era of Ezra and Nehemiah. In reality,
it was a completely new Temple that far surpassed the smaller temple he
replaced. Herod enlarged the Temple Mount by 50 percent. The Temple
Mount is an artificial platform built upon the rocky peak of Jerusalem’s
hills. By Jewish tradition, this is “Mount Moriah.”

There were other building projects in Jerusalem, including a new market,
amphitheater, theater, a structure for the Sanhedrin, and his own royal
palace. Archaeologists are still discovering the ruins of what Herod built
in Jerusalem.

Herod also built palaces, fortresses, markets, athletic stadiums, and at
least one entire city throughout Israel. Some of his building projects were
completed in other countries. Herod built massive homes for himself in
Jerusalem, Caesarea, Sebaste, Jericho, and at the mountain fortresses of Masada, Machaerus, and the
Herodium.

Herodium Machaerus Masada

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