Herod's Palace. South of the Herodian citadel stood the King's palace, "which exceeds all my ability to describe it".[56] Nevertheless, Josephus does provide a detailed description of the grandeur and luxury of Herod's residence: the magnificent halls decorated in gems, silver and gold, the ceilings made of decorated wooden beams, with enough beds to house a hundred guests. It was dotted with open courts and colonnades.