Ehud Netzer's Contribution to Research on the Herodian Period / תרומתו של אהוד נצר לחקר התקופה ההרודיאנית

For nearly 50 years, from 1963 when he worked with Professor Yigael Yadin in the excavations of Masada and until his death in 2010, Ehud Netzer researched and excavated many Herodian sites. His main research focused on sites such as Masada, Herodium and Jericho, but he also participated in the investigation of other sites such as Caesarea, Banias and Sepphoris. He even found time to publish books and articles on additional subjects such as Nabataean architecture and ancient synagogues. This article is an evaluation of the contribution made by Ehud Netzer in both his archaeological field work and his theoretical research. King Herod (37—4 BCE) was a master builder in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple period. The scores of building enterprises that were constructed at his initiative are a fascinating expression of a rich material culture as well as a reflection of the king's political and cultural outlook. The Kingdom of Judaea was then an integral part of the universal empire of Rome under the rule of Octavian/Augustus. King Herod and his architects drew their inspiration from two building traditions — the local one and the Roman one. But we should remember that both of these were highly influenced by Hellenistic architecture. For this reason, before discussing the various Herodian building enterprises in general and those that were excavated and researched by Ehud Netzer, the authors of this article found it advisable to provide a few introductory chapters on the nature and characteristics of Hellenistic and Roman architecture in the 1st century BCE. The authors believe that a presentation of Herod's building enterprises against the background of Hellenistic and Roman architecture will clarify two main topics: 1. The Herodian building enterprises were not an exceptional and isolated phenomenon but part of the architectural creativity in the regions extending along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean at the end of the Hellenistic and the beginning of the Roman periods; 2. An examination of the nature, character and variety of these enterprises leaves no doubt that the king and his architects were gifted with technical mastery, architectural boldness and sensitivity to the landscape without equal, not only in the Land of Israel but through the entire Hellenistic-Roman world.