Herodium Hosts Major Heritage Event for First Time in 2,000 Years

Herodium in the Judean Desert hosted a large public gathering for the first time in about 2,000 years, as Israel’s Ministry of Heritage opened an international conference on Israeli heritage and antiquities in Judea and Samaria. The event drew public figures, including the U.S. ambassador to Israel, government ministers, ambassadors, and researchers from Israel and abroad.

The opening took place today at the Herodium site as part of the ministry’s national “Derech Eretz Heritage” project, which aims to develop, upgrade, and make accessible heritage, biblical, and Jewish-history sites in Judea and Samaria. Organizers said the event transformed one of the world’s most important heritage sites into a living space of culture, memory, and national identity.

A central feature of the evening was the large-scale performance “Herod vs. Bar Kokhba: The Battle for Eternity,” which brought the site’s story to life where those historical events took place. Dozens of actors, live music, installations, street performances, and pyrotechnics turned Herodium into what organizers described as a one-night ancient city.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that while some claim Israel is isolated or seek to erase its history through UNESCO, “today they are invited to look at Herodium ... and a 2,000-year-old pool that has come back to life.” U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said, “Your heritage is also our heritage,” adding that Israel’s history is written “on every stone.” Ben Har Even, head of the archaeology staff officer, said archaeology in Judea and Samaria continues to uncover the “fundamental chapters” of Jewish history. Gush Etzion Regional Council head Yaron Rosental said the goal is to make Herodium the leading archaeological site in Israel through further restoration, including the pool complex.