An Israeli university professor Ehud Netzer who has conducted archaeological digs at Herodium since 1972 announced the discovery of the grave and tomb of Herod the Great, the Roman empire's ''king of the Jews'' in ancient Judea.

An Israeli archaeologist says he has discovered the tomb of King Herod, one of the legendary rulers of the ancient world. VOA's Jim Teeple reports the discovery follows nearly a half-century of excavation work at one of Herod's palaces, located about 15 kilometers south of Jerusalem.

The long search for Herod the Great's tomb has ended with the exposure of the remains of his grave, sarcophagus and mausoleum on Mount Herodium's northeastern slope, Prof. Ehud Netzer of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Institute of Archaeology announced today.