Machaerus

#19 among destinations in Jordan

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Facts and practical information

Machaerus was a Hasmonean hilltop palace and desert fortress, now in ruins, located in modern-day Jordan, 25 km southeast of the mouth of the Jordan river on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. According to the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, it was the location of the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. According to the chronology of the Bible, the execution took place in about 32 CE shortly before the Passover, following an imprisonment of two years. The site also provides the setting for four additional New Testament characters: Herod the Great; his son, Tetrarch Herod Antipas; his second wife, Princess Herodias; and her daughter, Princess Salome. ()

Local name: قلعة مكاور Built: 90 B.C.E.Abandoned: 72 A.D.Coordinates: 31°34'1"N, 35°38'1"E

Location

MadabaJordan

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Day trips

Machaerus – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Fortress of Machaerus, Callirrhoe, Dead Sea.

0.6 miW
Ruins
Fortress of Machaerus
15 min walk • Machaerus was a Hasmonean hilltop palace and desert fortress, now in ruins, located in modern-day Jordan, 25 km southeast of the mouth of the Jordan river on the eastern side of the Dead Sea.
4.8 miNW
Archaeological site
Callirrhoe
124 min walk • Callirrhoe is an archaeological site in Jordan in which remains of a nymphaeum can be traced, though it is considered difficult to be interpreted.
4.1 miNW
Locality
Dead Sea
104 min walk • The Dead Sea is not only a place of natural beauty and relaxation, but it also holds historical and biblical significance. It is believed to be the site of the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and is mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran.