Hasmonean Palace in Jericho

Years of dedicated research and diggings by archeologist Yehud Netzer have yielded results in the form of remains of a magnificent palace which shows an unmistakable Hellenistic influence. This Hasmonean Palace is believed to have been built by King Alexander Jannaeus and is believed to have been used by Herod, who spent the last few years of his life in the palace. Herod is credited for adding more structures to the original palace and also added more decorations to it. Contrary to the palace at Masada, which was employed as a private residence, Hasmonean Palace was largely used for important occasions in the state or for meeting important officials.

The outlying fields of the Hasmonean Palace are known to be extremely fertile with plenty of water supply from the nearby ponds. Growing in prolific numbers in the nearby fields were plants of great rarity and worth. Among these plants were those which were known for widely for their aroma.

Hasmonean Palace was situated in a beautiful park which had well planned terraces and water networks. Among those structures which were identified in Hasmonean Palace are – Roman as well as Jewish baths, a spacious audience chamber and various other rooms ornamented with frescoes.

The most outstanding feature of Hasmonean Palace is clearly a large swimming pool which is over 4m deep with a length of 32 m and 18m in width. Many believe that this was the same pool in which the half deranged Herod had drowned his own brother in law. Hasmonean Palace displays intricate sense of planning with the water from the swimming pool flowing out to water the palace garden as well as the scores of irrigated land which belonged to the king. Later excavations have brought to surface more than few palaces which flourished in the same site.