By Dr. Steven Derfler, Executive Director, Educational Resources, Inc.
Herod became the Roman King of Judea in 40 BCE and imposed changes upon his subjects that resulted in a “world turned upside down.” Herod’s desert fortress on the mountain top of Masada has been described as one of the most enduring engineering feats of the ancient Roman world. His royal northern palace is a marvel of Roman technology as it hangs over a precipice in three levels descending down the mountain face, literally ‘hanging’ over the Dead Sea Valley 1300 feet below.
An international educational consultant, public speaker, archaeologist, historian, researcher, teacher and writer, Dr. Derfler has been uncovering the histories of Ancient Civilizations for 40 years. Tracing the development of western religions from their roots in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean countries, Dr. Derfler brings insight to current political and social events, bridging the past with the future to promote greater understanding between people from different faiths and walks of life.