The Theater

On the northern slopes of the hill, west of the mausoleum and the monumental stairway, stood a small royal theater, with all the characteristic features of a Roman theater: it had a stage and a cavea (auditorium) with a series of entrances and adjacent chambers. Its capacity was 300 to 400 spectators, and it makes clear Herod’s intention to introduce an atmosphere of culture and recreation to Herodium, in the heart of the desert.
The seating was in 12 rows divided by a vertical aisle, with the upper seats undoubtedly reserved for the royal entourage. The audience entered via entrances at both the top and bottom of the theater; lower seats were accessible via narrow covered passages and possibly also through the entrances on either side of the stage, while access to the upper bloc of seats would have been from entrances in the upper part of the building. The majority of the stage was preserved only below floor level, but the remains allow for the reconstruction of an elaborate scenae frons (back wall of the stage), with collonades probably of two storeys, and possibly also semi-circular or rectangular openings of varying sizes.
It seems that the theater was built relatively hurriedly, without great attention to detail. Like most of the other structures at Herodium, the walls were plastered on both sides, with architectural ornamentation which added to their splendor. The debris which covered the theater was full of column parts of various diameters, capitals and other details, including remnants of painted plaster, hinting at the theater’s splendor.
The theater’s tour de force was revealed at the top of the cavea, where a suite of chambers was uncovered, the middle one of which, open to the stage, served as a royal chamber for the king and his closest associates. The walls of this large room were decorated with paintings in secco (painting on dry plaster) with stucco (molded plaster) additions. Among them are a number of painted “windows” with scenes of nature and rural life, including buildings, trees, scenery, animals and human figures (see below).
Around ten years after its building, the theater was dismantled and completely covered, as part of the establishment of the artificial mound of Herodium – Herod’s perpetual monument. It is interesting to note that for a short period, prior to the completion of the dismantling, this chamber was used as living quarters for the workmen employed in building the artificial hill; they divided the room with flimsy partitions, installing stoves and ovens. After the theater was covered, vaulted corridors were built through the backfill of the artificial mound to provide access to the two water cisterns.

Site Explanation Sign

Read more:

• Netzer E., Kalman Y., Porat R. and Laureys-Chachy R., 2009. “Herod’s Grave and the Royal Theater on the slope of the Herodium Hill”, Qadmoniyot 138 (year 42), Pp. 104-117
• Netzer E., Porat R., Kalman Y., Chachy R., Di- Segni L. and Eshel E., 2009. “Two Inscriptions from Herodium”, Judea and Samaria Research Studies Vol 18, Pp. 85-103. (in Hebrew)
• Netzer E, Kalman Y, Porat R, Chachy-Laureys R. 2010 .”Preliminary report on Herod’s mausoleum and theatre with a royal box at Herodium”, JRA 23, Зp. 84-108.

• Netzer E, Porat R., Kalman Y. and Chachi R., 2013. “Herodium”, Mevorah D. and Rozenberg S. (eds.) Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey, Jerusalem, Pp. 126-161.
• Weiss Z., 2013. “Buildings for Mass Entertainment in Herod’s Kingdom”, Mevorah D. and Rozenberg S. (eds.) Herod the Great: The King’s Final Journey, Jerusalem, Pp. 224-239.