FORTRESSES OF THE JUDEAN DESERT.

MY ISRAEL:

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE DESERT FORTRESSES OF JUDEAN DESERT:

Six of the seven desert fortresses of Judea namely Sartaba (Alexandrium), Doq (Qarantal), Kypros, Horkania, Masada, & Machareus, were first built by the Hasmoneans. The Hasmonean period began in 167 B.C.E. & lasted until the arrival & start of the Roman period in 63 B.C.E. The Hasmonean dynasty began with the Hasmonean family headed by Mattathias, who with his 5 sons led the revolt against the forced Hellenization of the Jewish population by the Hellenistic ruler of the time, namely Antiochus 4 (175 B.C.E-164 B.C.E). The revolt culminated in the cleansing of the Temple & gave rise to the holiday of Hanukah. The name Maccabees was the title name conferred on the Hasmonean dynasty. A 7th fortress which can best be described as a palace/fortress, namely the Herodian, was built solely by Herod (37 B.C.E-4 B.C.E). In addition, Herod virtually rebuilt both Kypros & Masada, overhauled, fortified & enlarged Sartaba, Doq, Hyrkania & Machareus, transforming them into palatial/fortresses.

Each site is of course deserving of its own article, however I have already written a more in depth article on the Herodian, which I posted on the16th September 2019 & added to my blog. It is also my intention to write a detailed article on Masada in the future & have therefore concentrated my efforts on the remaining sites.

One purpose common to all the desert fortresses was to control the roads to & from Jerusalem. In addition, the fortresses served as administrative & entertainment centers, prisons, burial sites, “vaults” for the royal treasuries & shelters against external threats such as invading armies. With the exception of Masada which sat above the surrounding area due to a geological formation called a horst, all other fortresses where built atop an artificial mound.

SARTABA also known as ALEXANDRIUM: Located on the border between the Judean desert & Samarian hills, overlooks the Jordan Valley. Probably named after the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannæus (104-77 BCE). Called Sartaba in the Talmud & listed as one of the torch lighting stations. Torch lighting was a method used during the Second Temple period (586 B.C.E – 73 C.E.) to notify everyone in the land that a New Month/Moon had arrived. This involved the lighting of fires along a chain of well-known high places. Destroyed by the Roman general Pompey in 63 B.C.E. but later rebuilt by Herod to entertain guests, accommodate military garrisons, protect royal treasures & confine political prisoners. Herod held his second wife Miriamne & her mother captive here, & two of his son’s namely Aristobulos & Alexander whom he murdered, were buried within its confines.

One is able to visit the site but must first gain clearance from the army. Little remains of the former fortress as it was destroyed by either Vespasian or Titus during the Jewish revolt against Rome, which began in 66 C.E & ended in 73 C.E. with the fall of Masada. The climb to the top is strenuous but the resultant views make it all worthwhile.

DOQ also known as QARANTAL: Located to the west of Jericho on the eastern fringe of the Judean desert atop the cliffs overlooking the Jericho plain. Doq is the Aramaic word for “viewing point. Destroyed by the Roman general Pompey in 63 B.C.E, but later rebuilt by Herod. Two of the fortresses primary functions was to protect the royal estates & balsam factories. According to the Talmud, Balsam was an ointment extracted from a highly valued product of the Jericho plain whose main use was medicinal rather than cosmetic.

KYPROS: Located to the south of the fortress of Doq atop cliffs west of Jericho and overlooks the Jericho plain. Destroyed by the Roman general Pompey in 63 B.C.E, but later rebuilt by Herod who named it after his mother. Similar to the fortress of Doq in many respects in that two of its main functions was to protect the royal estates & balsam factories.

HORKANIA: Located 200 meters above the Horkania valley, which borders the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. In all probability built by & named after the Hasmonian leader John Hycranus (134 B.C.E.-104 B.C.E). Destroyed by the Roman general Pompey in 63 B.C.E, but later rebuilt by Herod who used the fortress primarily to imprison, torture and murder his opponents. Herod killed most of his family including Antipater, one of his son’s and heir to his throne & ordered that he be buried in Horkania.

The site is very remote & can only be accessed using a 4x4 vehicle or by bikers & hikers.

MACHARIUS: A fortified hilltop in present day Jordan, east of the Dead Sea. Built by the Hasmonean King Alexander Jannaeus (104 B.C.E.-78 B.C.E) and later destroyed in 57 B.C.E, by Gabinus, a Roman general under the command of Pompey. Rebuilt by Herod with the primary purpose of protecting the kingdom against both the Edomite’s & Nabateans. The site is also reputed to be the location of the imprisonment & execution of John the Baptist.

Tragically, the local Arab population are running a frenzied campaign to destroy all archaeological evidence of the ancient Jewish presence in the land. In this case, they seek to wipe out artifacts from the period of the Hashmonaim who existed hundreds of years prior to the emergence of Islam.

NOTE: These sites are located in remote areas and are best visited with a guide who is familiar with the terrain.

Ron Traub (Tour Guide & Architect: Website: rontraub-tours.com Photo’s: From the Internet.