Overview

Bibliography

Machaerus is a Herodian fortress located on an isolated hill overlooking the Dead Sea. The first fortress on the hill was built by Alexander Janneus, but was destroyed by Gabinius in 57 BCE. Remains of the Hasmonean fortress are still visible, especially on the western side. Herod rebuilt the fortress on a new plan that included a bath, a triclinium, and a peristyle court (all elements found at his other mountain fortress of Herodium). After Herod's death, the fortress was inherited by Herod Antipas, where he famously beheaded John the Baptist. The Romans took over administration of the fortress after the death of Agrippa I, but abandoned the fortress with the outbreak of the Judean revolt. Judean rebel then occupied the fortress until 72 CE, when Lucilius Bassus destroyed it.

Machaerus was surveyed in 1973 by A. Strobel. Although some excavation took place in 1968 under the direction of J. Vardaman, the primary excavations of the site were in 1978-1981 by V. Corbo for the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. Still later excavations were conducted in 1992-1993 by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Jordan.

The archaeological strata uncovered at the site, as illustrated in the site plan, date to the following periods:

	Herodian Period
	Hasmonean Period