Thursday, October 28, 2010

Ehud Netzer has died

EHUD NETZER has died from a tragic accident at the Herodium excavation. The Jerusalem Post reports the accident here. Overnight the news has reached me from multiple sources that he died from his injuries yesterday. This was forwarded by Mladen Popovic:
Van: Roger Wilson
Datum: 28 oktober 2010 7:09:48 GMT+02:00
Aan: CLASSICISTS@liverpool.ac.uk
Onderwerp: Professor Ehud Netzer
Antwoord aan: Roger Wilson

Colleagues will be saddened to learn that Professor Ehud Netzer, the distinguished Israeli archaeologist, has died at the age of 76 after a tragic accident. On October 25th he fell 15 metres while excavating the ancient theatre on the hillside at Herodion, injuring his head and neck, and died two days later in hospital in Jerusalem. His discovery at Herodion of the Tomb of Herod in 2007 made headlines around the world, but he will be remembered for many superlative excavations at sites associated with Herod, culminating in his magisterial The Architecture of Herod, the Great Builder (2006), as well as for the excavations at Sepphoris, which he directed from 1985 to 1993. A modest and unassuming man, who wore his learning lightly, he will be greatly missed by his family and friends and by colleagues around the world. Anyone who wishes to express their sympathy should write to Kathryn Gleeson (kathryngleason@hotmail.com), who will pass on your words to Ehud’s family and his colleagues at the Hebrew University.

Professor R J A Wilson, MA, DPhil, FSA
Professor of the Archaeology of the Roman Empire
Director, Centre for the Study of Ancient Sicily
Head, Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies
University of British Columbia
1866 Main Mall
Vancouver V6T 1Z1
Canada
I noted his announcement in 2007 of the discovery of Herod's tomb here. His most recent appearance at PaleoJudaica was in the middle of last month, here.

May his memory be for a blessing.