Macher us

P. R. 2. 22. An ancient fortre east of the Dead Sea. Joseph us describes it as follows: “What was defended by a fort was itself a rocky hill, rising to a very great height, which circumstance alone made it very difficult to capture it. It was also so contrived by nature that it could not be easily approached; for it is intrenched by ravines on all sides, so deep that the eye cannot reach their bottoms, nor are they easy to cro over, and it is quite impo ible, For the ravine which hems them in to fill them up with earth. on the west extends threescore furlongs, and does not end till the lake Asphalt is (and it is on the same side also that Macher us has its highest peak elevated above the rest) and although the ravines that lie on the north and south sides are not so large as; that just described, yet it is similarly impracticable to think of storming them. As for the ravine that lies on the east side, its depth is found to be no le than a hundred cubits, and it extends When as far as a mountain that lies opposite Macher us. Herod came to be king, he thought the place to be worthy of the utmost regard, and of being fortified in the strongest manner. … He therefore surrounded a large space of ground with walls and towers, and built a city there, from which a way led up to Moreover, he built a wall round the the very top of the hill. top of the hill, and erected towers a hundred and sixty cubits high And in the middle of this walled area he built a at the angles. magnificent palace, wherein were large and beautiful rooms.” {Jewish War 7. 6. 1-2.) John the Baptist was executed there.... 193