Herod the Great

This handout photo provided by the Israeli Government Press Office shows an aerial view of the man-made hilltop fortress of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

This handout photo provided by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows the base of Herod's tomb on the northeastern slope of the man-made hilltop fortress of Herodion on May 6, 2007, near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Israeli archaeologist professor Ehud Netzer holds a piece of carved stone from Herod the Great's sarcophagus during a press conference May 8, 2007, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

This handout photo provided by the Israeli Government Press Office shows the palace of King Herod nestled within the hilltop fortress of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

This handout photo provided by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on May 8, 2007, shows an artist's reconstruction of Herod's sarcophagus, including pieces of the stone coffin found in Herod's tomb on the slopes of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

This handout photo provided by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows the archaeological dig on the northeastern slope of the man-made hilltop fortress of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

A piece of carved stone from Herod the Great's sarcophagus is on display during a press conference May 8, 2007, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Journalists and TV crews gather at the tomb site of Herod the Great at the hilltop fortress of Herodion on May 8, 2007, near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

The tomb site of Herod the Great on May 8, 2007, at the hilltop fortress of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Pieces of a collapsed monumental arch lie amongst the excavations of the tomb of Herod the Great on May 8, 2007, at the hilltop fortress of Herodion near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Sarcophagus

On November 19, 2008, archaeologists announced that analysis of items found at Herodion offer further proof that the site was the burial place of the Jewish King. The remains of a sarcophagus believed to be King Herod's are pictured on display during a press conference at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.