MAKAWER

A Castle was built in 90 BC by the Hasmonean leader Alexander Janius , but the Romans seized it in 57 BC and it was destroyed by the Roman leader Pompey. But Herod the Great regained control of the castle during the period 25-13 BC and rebuilt it and built a huge wall surrounding it from all directions, after which the castle devolved to his son Herodos Antipas, who took over the reins of power, then the Roman armies led by Lucius Bassus entered it in the year 71 AD However, there are only some traces left of it, such as the remains of the palace, towers, canals, squares, ponds, and columns.

The most important thing about the castle is the biblical story about the beheading of Johan the Baptist when Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).  John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!”  Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.