The Landscape Palaces of Herod the Great

Herod the Great's palaces, notably those at Jericho, Masada, Herodium, and Caesarea, represent groundbreaking landscape architecture from the late Hellenistic-early Roman era. Archaeological evidence reveals Herod's innovative integration of peristyles, strolling gardens, viewing knolls, towers, pools, and naumachiae (artificial naval battle arenas) into dramatic landscapes, reflecting contemporary design trends. This approach, supported by ancient historical accounts like those of Flavius Josephus, demonstrates Herod's mastery in blending architectural aesthetics with natural settings, setting a precedent for royal residences in the Mediterranean region.

Gleason, K. L. (2014). THE LANDSCAPE PALACES OF HEROD THE GREAT. Near Eastern Archaeology, 77(2), 76–97. https://doi.org/10.5615/neareastarch.77.2.0076