Alexandrium

Alexandreion[1] (Greek), or Alexandrium (Latin), called Sartaba in the Mishna and Talmud and Qarn Sartaba in Arabic, was an ancient hilltop fortress constructed by the Hasmoneans[2] between Scythopolis and Jerusalem on a pointy barren hill towering over the Jordan Valley from the west.[3] It was likely named after Hasmonean king Alexander Jannæus (104-77 BCE).

Alexandrium
Wall at Alexandrium
Shown within the Palestinian territories
Alternative nameAlexandreion, Sartaba
LocationJericho Governorate, West Bank
RegionJudea
Coordinates32°5′45″N 35°27′41″E
TypeFortification
History
BuilderProbably Alexander Jannaeus
Founded1st century BCE
AbandonedAbout 70 CE
PeriodsHellenistic to Roman Empire
Mount Sartaba, once topped by Alexandrium fortress

Name

The fortress called "Alexandreion" in Greek, simplified to "Alexandrion" (and Latinised as "Alexandrium"), is mentioned by Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews. It was mentioned in the Mishna and Talmud as "Sartaba" and is now called "Qarn Sartabe" (lit. "Horn of Sartabe") in Arabic.[4]

History
Khan Sartabeh aqueduct from the 1871-77 PEF Survey of Palestine

Alexandrium was constructed by the Hasmoneans near the border with Samaria to accommodate a military garrison, as well as to guard political prisoners.[5] It is later mentioned during Pompey the Great's conquest of Judea as a stronghold of Aristobulus II: "...as he passed by Pella and Scythopolis, he came to Corem, which is the first entrance into Judea when one passes over the midland countries, where he came to a most beautiful fortress that was built on the top of a mountain called Alexandrium, whither Aristobulus had fled/"[6]

The Alexandreion was restored by Herod the Great, a task he assigned to his brother Pheroras. Herod gave it the character of a palatial desert fortress, similar to those he built or rebuilt at Masada, Herodion and Machaerus. Herod used the fortress as a prison for his political opponents, holding his 2nd wife, Mariamne and her mother, Alexandra there in 30 BCE. It was also the burial site of Alexander, son of Herod, and Aristobulus, two of his sons whom Herod had executed at Sebaste in 7 BCE.[3]

Alexandrium was finally razed by Vespasian or Titus during the Great Revolt.[7]

References

Notes
  1. Peter Richardson, Amy Marie Fisher (2018). Herod: King of the Jews and Friend of the Romans (2 ed.). Routledge. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-1388-0392-3. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  2. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 13:417
  3. Rocca 2008, pp. 30-32
  4. Abraham Schalit, König Herodes. Der Mann und sein Werk. Walter de Gruyter Inc., Studia Judaica, 2001, p. 12, footnote 40. German: "Josephus, AJ, XIV, 3, 4 (Par. 49). Alexandreion ist das Sartaba der Mischnah und des Talmud, heute Qarn Sartabe, etwa drei Meilen südwestlich von der Mündung des Jabboq in den Jordan." English translation: "Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, XIV, 3, 4 (par. 49). Alexandreion is the Sartaba of the Mishnah and Talmud, today's Qarn Sartabe, about three miles southwest of the confluence of the Jabboq with the Jordan."
  5. Rocca 2008, p. 12
  6. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 14:48
  7. Krauss, Samuel. "ALEXANDRIUM". JewishEncyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 7, 2011.

Bibliography
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