Photos: The Herodian, one of Herod the Great’s huge building projects (along with the Temple and Masada) on the outskirts of Bethlehem. It was a summer palace, monument, burial ground, and district capital built into the top of a mountain, making it look the the cone of a volcano. Beneath it is an interesting system of tunnels used by rebels during the bar Kochba revolt in 132 AD. I visited here with two friends, Trystan and Melissa, on the Friday of “Shavuot” (Pentecost)--another national holiday and day off from work!