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All Jordan Areedh Sub-District Fortress of Machaerus

Fortress of Machaerus

These ruins by the Dead Sea is where John the Baptist met his untimely end.

Areedh Sub-District, Jordan

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Max Cortesi
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About

Going for antiquity in Jordan means going Biblical.  The Fortress of Machaerus is located on the northeastern shore of the Dead Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan River.  There is evidence that this is where John the Baptist was kept captive and eventually beheaded in 32 AD on Salome’s request. 

Alexander Jannaeus (104-78 BC) had the Fortress of Machaerus built on top of a hill in 90 BC for geopolitical reasons. If today, the fortress offers breathtaking views of the Dead Sea and the surrounding area, at its inception, it offered a great vantage point to observe military movements on and around the Dead Sea. 

Among the string of historical figures that presided over the Fortress of Machaerus is Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and Herod Agrippa I, after whose death (44 AD), the fortress was conquered by the Romans. Jewish insurgents took over in 66 AD but Romans took the fortress back in 72 AD. It was around this time that Romans tore down the fortress leaving nothing but the foundations.

Archaeological studies began in 1968 and underwent different phases through the years. Sections of the royal palace survived, including fragments of mosaics. Excavations unearthed pottery whose style and age coincides with the different peoples that occupied the fortress. 

Now, in addition to the original foundations of the fortress are also five full columns (Doric and Ionic) and some partial ones. These are damaged columns found lying on site that an archaeological team reassembled, reinforced, and re-erected in the spot where they used to stand. This restoration work was carried out using a technique called anastylosis, which means that the original materials, techniques, and styles were used as much as possible in the restoration process. 

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Ruins Jordan

Know Before You Go

The hilltop fortress of Machaerus is located on the eastern side of the Dead Sea and is about 53 kilometers southwest of the city of Amman.

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Ancient Ruins & Legendary Landmarks of Jordan

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Added By

Max Cortesi

Edited By

Nikki Vargas

  • Nikki Vargas

Published

November 15, 2018

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Fortress of Machaerus
Fortress of Machaerus
Unnamed Road
Areedh Sub-District
Jordan
31.5672, 35.6244
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Nearby Places

Ma'in Hot Springs

Mkawer, Jordan

miles away

River Canyons of Jordan

Areedh Sub-District, Jordan

miles away

Madaba Mosaic Map

Madaba, Jordan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Areedh Sub-District

Areedh Sub-District

Jordan

Places 2

Nearby Places

Ma'in Hot Springs

Mkawer, Jordan

miles away

River Canyons of Jordan

Areedh Sub-District, Jordan

miles away

Madaba Mosaic Map

Madaba, Jordan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Areedh Sub-District

Areedh Sub-District

Jordan

Places 2

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