King Herod's tomb found in Israel

JERUSALEM, May 8 (UPI) -- The 2,000-year-old tomb of Roman King Herod has been located by archeologists eight miles south of Jerusalem, but it was plundered soon after his death.

Professor Ehud Netzer of Hebrew University in Jerusalem said pieces of a limestone sarcophagus were found Monday night at Herodium although no bone fragments were left, Haaretz reported Tuesday.

He estimated the vandalism occurred during the Jewish rebellion of 66-72 AD.

Herodium was destroyed by the Romans after the rebellion.

Herod was appointed governor of Galilee at the age of 25 and was made King of the Jews by the Roman senate in approximately 40 BC, and ruled for about 34 years, the newspaper said.

At Herodium, Herod built one of the largest and opulent complexes in the Roman Empire, which had facilities for a residential palace, a sanctuary, an administrative center and a mausoleum, the report said.