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Palestine, Israel In Controversy Over King Herod's Tomb
An upcoming exhibit is causing friction between Palestinians and Israelis, the Associated Press reports.On February 13, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem will open "Herod the Great: The King's Final Journey." It will be the first exhibition dedicated to the architectural legacy of the infamous Jewish king, who ruled as a vassal of the Roman Empire from 37-4 B.C.
Best known for the Biblical story of his killing the male children of Bethlehem to try to get rid of the baby Jesus, he was also one of the region's great builders, expanding the Second Temple and erecting many other monuments.
The exhibition will display remains from his many building projects. The centerpiece will be his recently discovered tomb, shown here, and what may be his sarcophagus, painstakingly reconstructed from hundreds of shattered pieces. Archaeologists believe it was destroyed by Jews to show their hatred of Herod.
Almost all the artifacts are from the West Bank, part of Palestine, and here is where the problem lies. Palestinian Authority officials say they weren't consulted about the exhibit and that excavating and removing artifacts from Palestine without their permission breaks international antiquities laws. The Israel Museum denies this and says they have authority over the artifacts. They also say the material will be returned to the West Bank after the exhibition closes October 5.
In this part of the world, history frequently gets enmeshed in politics, with both sides trying to claim the land by historical precedent.
The BBC has an interesting article on the troubles archaeologists face in Gaza. Besides a shortage of funding, sanctions keep them from getting many of the materials needed for excavation and conservation. War has also taken its toll, with Israeli bombs hitting the antiquities office and also damaging an early medieval mosaic in a Byzantine Church.
[Photo of Herod's tomb courtesy Deror Avi]
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Israel, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Manasseh Jan 19th 2013 2:25PM
This is very important issue fir Israel. This is the first time maybe we have any phisical proof of the existing of a Jewish king in the land of Canaan, even if he was a vassal of Rome.
Joseph Jan 20th 2013 11:46AM
This is proof that Israel is not a friend of America or Christians, they want to glorify a mass murderer
Also there are many artifacts that shows the Palestinians have been in palestine since before Moses so this is not a legitable claim for Israel
Dan Jan 22nd 2013 8:01AM
Palastinians and Jews are genetically the same....Making the statement kinda moot....
larry Jan 22nd 2013 8:01AM
you are wrong about christians. i love the jewish people and i love jeruselem also. God said, i will bless those who bless isreal, and i will curse those who curse isreal.
papapia Jan 22nd 2013 8:36AM
Some people should think before they write. It is not a way to glorify a mass murderer. If that was the case every museum in the world could be accused of that. They are not glorifying anything but instead showing History. Lord knows America must hate Americans because i have seen them GLORIFY stuff from 911 by displaying it not to mention how the US gov. has shown all kinds of things from storms, bombings, mass shootings .....all on display in several places. Again HISTORY not glory.. Gods new kingdom will built in Israel and The jews are his chosen people. I support Israel and Jews all day everyday. Even if they did hate me, i am not doing it for them, i am doing it because The Lord says to. Great comments Larry, i look forward to all my blessings and everyone should live by Gen. 12 including our President
Maurice Jan 22nd 2013 10:59AM
We should look at this objectively and not put any religious twists on this. In one of the comments, it was said that the Palestinians were present before Moses. I am the farthest thing from an authority on biblical studies, but I do not remember ever seeing the words "Palestinians" in the bible anywhere. If, on the other hand, this individual commentor meant the "Philistines". that's different. However, the present day Palestinians are in no way related to the Philistines of the bible, and they are the ones. among others, who made that distinction, probably because of the connotation of the word "Philistine". This situation is a gray area. since the West Bank has not been officially declared a state, I don't think Israel's action would be looked upon as a violation of international law as Israel is in control. Some people do say some outlandish things, such as glorifying evil people. How about the Knights Templar? They did some pretty bad things, and some good ones, too. they, too, got their just or injust desserts.
Tiffany Jan 30th 2013 1:54PM
I'm not sure where you are getting that info, Maurice. The Arabic words for Palestine/Palestinian is Philistine/Philistini. Where is your source of them saying that they are not what they call themselves? (Not a challenge I seriously want to know )
Joe Alsup Jan 22nd 2013 9:28AM
Lets see here -- the Jews hated Herod, destroyed his tomb to show so, now they care who want the tomb back......... what a bunch of idiots...
ron bobel Jan 22nd 2013 9:46AM
i dont think they like each other.
Ron Jan 22nd 2013 11:54AM
Since there is no state of Palestine, one has to wonder what map the reporter who wrote the story was looking at. As far as destroying antiquities is concerned, nobody has done a better job than the Jordanians and the Palestinians (genetically the same). While all of Jerusalem was in Jordanian hands between 1948 and 1967 countless churches, cemeteries, tombs, temples and other holy sites were desecrated and destroyed and the bulldozers on the Temple Mount have done the same high quality archeologic excavations. As for Gaza not being able to get the equipment it needs, why not simply smuggle that in through the tunnels instead of missiles?
Bitter Waters Jan 24th 2013 2:46AM
Who rattled the cage of Mossad's counter-propaganda unit?
This is a reference to a geographical area that was known as Palestine for a long time. In the early 20th century, the state now known as Israel did not exist.
Mark the Artist Jan 22nd 2013 11:38AM
"part of Palestine"? There is no established Palestine. You are talking about "Judea and Samaria" (based on thousands of years of Jewish history), or, if you prefer, "the West Bank" (based on a mere 20 years of Jordanian Arab rule - though the Jordanians no longer lay claim to it). So, is this the new ruse used by liberal publications -- to name a territory under Israeli control "Palestine"? It has never been recognized internationally as such. I guess the Huff Post wants it to be that way, so makes up names and allots lands to whomever it wants in its articles. It's not journalism though. It's just leftist/Islamist propaganda.
Sean McLachlan Jan 22nd 2013 1:00PM
While the US government doesn't recognize the state of Palestine, the governments of 130 nations do.
Notpc Jan 23rd 2013 3:38PM
Palestine is perfectly identifiable by people over a certain age or people who know some pre-1940s history.
Bitter Waters Jan 24th 2013 2:46AM
See my comment above
Mark the Artist Jan 22nd 2013 11:50AM
Wrong, Sean. It only has observer status. Not the status of a country or state. That can only happen if the issue is voted on via the Security Council and they accept it. America has veto power there, so that is not going to happen any time soon. Which I am sure upsets you. But since many of the other countries at the UN General Assembly are tinpot dictatorships whose leaders were not even democratically elected, it's a good thing. Gaza itself is run by a bunch of Hamas terrorist thugs who have publicly said Jews are apes and pigs and should all be put to death, down to the last person, and that the Muslims should and will take over all of Europe. They also danced on 9/11 and celebrate Bin Laden. There's your "Palestine" for you! Hope it makes you proud.
Sean McLachlan Jan 22nd 2013 1:05PM
While those countries can't recognize Palestine via the UN they do, indeed, recognize its sovereignty. I have made no statement in support of Palestine except for stating the fact that it is recognized by many nations. You are putting words in my mouth and I have no desire to get into it with you if you can't actually speak to what I'm saying.
Reallynotpc Jan 24th 2013 2:46AM
Why introduce your own politics into a purely descriptive piece? Nether useful nor necessary.
Ezra Jan 22nd 2013 1:14PM
These Palestinians (Phillistines) always like to have their fingers in everything. They have taken over Bethlehem; and soon they will be interjecting themselves in the Bible to say that they were there in Israel when Jesus was crucified, so as to give themselves some form of credibility to the land that God has promised the Jews.
J.R.N. Jan 22nd 2013 2:42PM
possesion 99%of law