Mount Makawir

50 km from Madaba is the village of Makawir, in which Mahairos is preserved - the remains of the palace and fortress of Herod the Great. In this place, according to the Bible, John the Baptist was imprisoned and then beheaded. Therefore, many tourists and pilgrims from all over the world come here.

In 72, the palace was badly destroyed by the Romans, and now it is difficult to imagine its greatness. In the vicinity of Mahairos there are quite ancient ruins, but due to severe damage it is difficult to assume their age and purpose. The ruins of the main fortress are divided into two parts by a central straight corridor.

The ruins of the fortress are divided into two parts by the central corridor. On one side adjoins a spacious paved with smooth stone yard and baths. Once they were completely decorated with mosaics, but now there are literally a few bright tiles left from it. On the other side is the peristilium - refectory, surrounded by columns.

The entrance to the fortress was carried out by viaduct, the remains of which are clearly visible on the hillside. On the northern slope of the hill, rooms carved into the rock were found, which historians recognized as prison premises. Perhaps in one of the cells of this prison was John the Baptist in his last days.