Machaerus: Discovery and the History of Archaeological Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.3765Abstract
The article presents the history of research on the fortress of Machaerus, from its identification in the nineteenth century to the most recent archaeological investigations. Drawing on ancient written sources, especially the accounts of Josephus, as well as on the results of excavations conducted between 1968 and 2025, it outlines the historical development of the site from the Hasmonean and Herodian periods to its destruction during the First Jewish War. Particular attention is devoted to the remains of the Herodian palace-citadel and to the significance of Machaerus as the place of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist. The article also summarizes the current state of archaeological research.
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