Makawir Castle, historically known as Makairos, is located about 32 km southwest of Madaba, perched atop a conical hill approximately 1,125 meters above sea level. It offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Dead Sea, the Mujib Nature Reserve, and the distant mountains of Palestine, giving it a strategic position overlooking vital routes in the region.

The castle’s origins date back to the late 1st century BC, when it was built by the Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus (103–76 BC) as a defensive fortress against the Nabataeans, who controlled the King’s Highway. Legend has it that his wife, Queen Alexandra, hid her treasure within the castle, reflecting its status as a secure and impregnable stronghold. After her death, a civil war erupted between her sons, Aristobulus and Hycanus, culminating in the Romans capturing and destroying the castle in 57 BC.

In 37 BC, Herod rebuilt the castle after being proclaimed king by the Roman Senate, later becoming known as Herod the Great. He transformed it into a luxurious summer palace and a fully equipped defensive fortress, complete with towers, water channels, and wells, thus enhancing its military and political role in the region.

The fortress is associated with significant religious events; John the Baptist was imprisoned there during the reign of Herod Antipas after he denounced his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, following his divorce from the Nabataean princess, daughter of Aretas IV. According to ongoing Christian tradition, John was executed within the fortress in a celebratory ceremony after Salome demanded his head, an event considered one of the most prominent in its history.

Upon ascending to the summit, you can see the remains of the fortress wall, its stone towers, and the deep well, in addition to the cave believed to have been John the Baptist’s prison, which was discovered during recent archaeological excavations. The fortress offers its visitors a panoramic view stretching across the Dead Sea and Wadi Mujib, a scene that combines history and nature in a unique experience.

Today, Makawir Castle is an important stop on the Christian pilgrimage route, where visitors come to commemorate the martyrdom of John the Baptist and explore its rich religious and historical heritage.