King Herod the Great bathed in locally made calcite-alabaster bathtubs

Jerusalem Post ^ | MAY 17, 2022 | Judith Sudilovsky

[SunkenCiv]

King Herod the Great, king of Judea in the second half of the first century BC, is well known for his grandiose building projects, abundant wealth, political power and relentless pursuit of the opulent Roman lifestyle. Among the few archaeological artifacts found which give a peek into his private life are two of his personal calcite-alabaster bathtubs found in the palace of Herodium and his Kypros fortress near Jericho.

Though never scientifically tested, archaeologists have until now assumed that all calcite-alabaster vessels found in the Southern Levant (modern day Israel and Palestine) had been made with foreign alabaster mainly from Egypt. A recent Israeli study published in the journal Nature scientifically refutes the hypothesis.

For the first time, the study allows the distinction to be made between calcite-alabaster originating in Israel from that originating in Egypt, the main source of calcite-alabaster in ancient periods. It confirms that calcite-alabaster objects, such as Herod the Great’s calcite-alabaster bathtubs were made locally...

Indeed, from the Middle Bronze Age, Egypt played a crucial role in the appearance of calcite-alabaster artifacts in Israel, and the development of the local gypsum-alabaster industry. The absence of ancient calcite-alabaster quarries in the Southern Levant led to the assumption that all calcite-alabaster vessels found in the Levant originated from Egypt, while poorer quality vessels made of gypsum were local products.

[central_va]

Vomitoriums.

[Susquehanna Patriot]

Or the modern tub surprisingly, is more like the ancient design.

[Jamestown1630]

That’s what I thought. I was a little surprised at the shape.

[minnesota_bound]

Looks like King Herod bought local instead of from China.

[nicollo]

Buy Judean!

[In_Iowa_not_from]

Like a Victorian tub without the clawfeet or pedestal.