Bethlehem and Herodium

Bethlehem and Herodium

Birthplace of kings, and a palace on a hill

Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, is the traditional birthplace of King David and, in Christian tradition, of Jesus, whose birth the Church of the Nativity marks. The city is administered by the Palestinian Authority and lies behind Israel's security barrier. Nearby, on an artificial hill, are the remains of Herodium, the fortress-palace that Herod the Great built around 20 BCE. Herod was buried there, and archaeologists announced what they believe is his tomb in 2007. From the top, visitors see Jerusalem, the Judean Desert, and the Dead Sea.

Glossary: Bethlehem and Herodium