Apart from the "palace of Ai", which belongs to the Early Bronze Age, the first palaces unearthed are dated to the Middle Bronze Age (2nd millennium B.C.). The general plan is like that of the usual oriental dwelling, with rooms arranged around a central court. The buildings had at least two stories, the lower one being used for domestic purposes and the accommodation of servants while the upper storey contained the living quarters proper. Excavators very often call a building a palace simply by reason of its size, others prefer the terms "administrative building" or "official residency". But the quality of the architecture or a find of some importance – large numbers of scarabs, inscribed material, a hoard of ivory plaques or of gold jewelry – would point to the fact that its inhabitants belonged to a privileged class.
The most famous palace over constructed in Palestine was Solomon's royal palace in Jerusalem. Its several units are described in I Kings 7:1-12. This palace and the adjoining Temple were built under the influence of northern architecture. It was of a type that originated in Syria in the 2nd millennium B.C. The complex was entered through a portico with a single pillar, opening to an entrance hall, the "Hall of Pillars" (I Kgs 7:6) that led into the throne room or "Hall of Judgment" (I Kgs 7:7). Then came the living quarters, rooms surrounding "another court" (I Kgs 7:8). The "great court" (I Kgs 7:12) was apparently a huge court in front of the entrance. Built on similar lines, the palace of the Solomonic period at Megiddo has been identified as being of the same type. Another outstanding palace of the Iron Age was that of Omri and Ahab at Samaria, which followed the usual plan of rooms grouped around a central court. Its fame derives from the decoration of its furniture with ivory plaques in low or high relief or open-work; hence the reference to "the ivory house" in I Kings 22:39. A palace of the Late Iron Age, the first to be discovered in Judah, was found at Ramat Rachel and identified with the palace built by Jehoiakim (609-597 B.C.) and referred to by Jeremiah (22:13-14). A palace of the Persian period, which was built late in the 5th century B.C., has been unearthed at Lachish.
Excavations have brought to light significant remains of the palaces built by Herod the Great in the Upper City Jerusalem (podium and gate), in Caesarea (the promontary palace), Jericho (winter palaces) and within his fortresses (Cypros, Herodium, and Masada). Additional archaeological information is available regarding the palace built by Philip at Banias, and the palace built by Herod and reused by his son Herod Antipas at Machaerus.
See Building Materials
Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible. Copyright © 1986 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved.
