King Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem was so magnificent that Josephus Flavius (The Wars of the Jews, book 5, chapter 4), states that it exceeded all his ability to describe it since no effort or expense was spared in its construction. Built in the second half of the 1st century BCE on Jerusalem’s western hill, it was the second most splendid building in Jerusalem following the Temple itself. Part of the palace complex were pools that were uncovered during archaeological excavations.