In Arabic it is known as Jabal al-Fureidis (جبل فريديس), literally the "Mountain of the Little Paradise".

In 40 BCE, after the Parthian conquest of Syria, Herod fled to Masada. On the way, at the location of Herodion, Herod clashed with Jews loyal to his enemy Antigonus, and emerged victorious. According to the Roman Jewish historian Josephus, he;

built a town on that spot in commemoration of his victory, and enhanced it with wonderful palaces... and he called it Herodion after himself.

Archaeologists believe that the palace was designed by architects and built by slaves and paid workers (contractors). Herod was considered one of the greatest builders of his time and was not daunted by geography—his palace was built on the edge of the desert and was situated atop an artificial hill.

circa 20 BCE

Herodium, or Herodion, was conceived by King Herod the Great around 23 BCE as part of his extensive building projects throughout Judea, aimed at consolidating his rule and creating monumental architectural legacies. Located about five miles southeast of the Old City of Jerusalem, the site was chosen for its strategic location, perched atop a man-made hill that Herod's engineers meticulously constructed to enhance its visibility and defensibility. The hill itself was artificially expanded to create a stronghold that would be both a luxurious palace and a fortress, allowing Herod to project power across the region and secure his dynasty. The construction of Herodium, an impressive feat of engineering, included an extensive system of water reservoirs, a sophisticated palace complex, a theater, and gardens, making it a luxurious retreat that also served as a military stronghold.

The construction of the Herodium complex is believed to have taken over a decade, with its most remarkable features including a grand palace on the hilltop, adorned with marble and mosaics, as well as lower administrative and residential areas surrounding the hill. The engineering ingenuity at Herodium is evident in its water management system, which relied on a series of aqueducts and cisterns to supply the palace with water from nearby springs. This feat of hydraulic engineering ensured that the complex could function independently even in times of siege. The lower parts of the complex included a fortified town, a large pool, and extensive gardens, all reflecting Herod’s vision of a self-sustaining royal retreat that combined luxury with defense. Additionally, Herodium's proximity to Bethlehem made it a symbolic connection to the biblical narrative, as it was located within Herod’s kingdom and near the site of Jesus’ birth, further enhancing its historical and political relevance.

After Herod's death in 4 BCE, Herodium’s role shifted. The site remained significant, serving as a military base during the early years of the Roman occupation of Judea. In 66 CE, during the Great Jewish Revolt, the fortress became a key stronghold for Jewish rebels resisting Roman forces. Its strategic location and formidable defensive structures allowed the defenders to hold out against the Romans for several years. However, in 71 CE, after extensive siege warfare, the Romans, led by the future emperor Titus, successfully captured Herodium, ending its role as a resistance outpost. The fortress and surrounding structures were largely abandoned and fell into ruin. Over the centuries, the site was neglected, with its exact location forgotten until its rediscovery in the 19th and 20th centuries CE. The excavation of Herodium has since revealed its grandeur, including the discovery of Herod's tomb in 2007 CE, a critical finding that confirmed the site's historical and cultural significance as the burial place of one of the most influential kings in ancient Judea.

circa 20 BCE

Upper Fortress
The Upper fortress, or simply Herodion, is a truncated-cone-shaped hill, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Jerusalem and 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) southeast of Bethlehem, in the Judaean Desert, West Bank. Herod the Great built a palace fortress and a small town at Herodium, between 23 and 15 BCE, and is believed to have been buried there. The upper Herodium is 758 meters (2,487 feet) above sea level, located atop the highest peak in the Judaean Desert.

circa 20 BCE

Lower Town
The lower town is located on the north-west foothills of the fortress. The lower city structures contained offices of the district capital, palace rooms for the visitors and family, Roman garden, and a lake. It extended beyond the modern road, and include another bathhouse and other structures. A few remains of the water channel have been found on the way from Jerusalem to Herodion. The artificial island at the pool's center is thought to have sported 3 floors: a nice place to enjoy the breeze and eat a bite, or just relax.

circa 20 BCE

Tomb of Herod
The tomb of Herod the Great, fabled King of Judaea, has most likely been discovered. Early accounts of Herod's funeral led scholars to believe the tomb would be found at the base of Herodium, but decades of searching the lower complex turned up nothing. In 2006, Netzer suggested the team examine a seemingly out-of-place section of wall halfway up the hill. In April 27, 2007, diggers hit upon a slab of high-quality, highly ornamented pink limestone. Further excavation revealed a remarkably ornate sarcophagus, one fit only for a king. The remains of a huge staircase leading up to the burial site have been uncovered, as well.

circa 1960s- Present

The archaeology of Herodium has yielded critical insights into the architectural ambition and political symbolism of Herod the Great’s reign, as well as the site's complex stratigraphy reflecting successive phases of occupation and transformation. Systematic excavations began in earnest in the 1960s under the direction of Father Virgilio Corbo and later intensified through the work of Ehud Netzer, whose decades-long investigations culminated in the 2007 identification of what is widely accepted as Herod’s mausoleum.

The site presents a rare, integrated architectural complex comprising both a fortified palace atop the artificial mountain and an expansive lower city, with features including bathhouses, a monumental stairway, a Roman-style theater, and an elaborate water system. Stratigraphic analysis reveals Herodian construction phases clearly distinguished from later modifications during the First Jewish Revolt and subsequent Bar Kokhba period. The material culture—comprising coins, inscriptions, frescoes, and imported ceramics—attests to both the site’s elite status and its sustained, though intermittent, occupation through late antiquity. Herodium thus constitutes a critical locus for understanding Herodian architecture, Roman provincial adaptations, and the socio-political dynamics of Judea from the late Second Temple period into the Roman and Byzantine eras.