Castellion (Hurqanya)
Remains of an ancient fortress and a monastery in the Judean Desert between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea, west of Hyrcania Valley. Probably built by order of John Hyrcanus in the 1st or 2nd century BCE, hence the name of site.
Arabic name is Khirbet El Mird, from the Aramaic word marda for fortress. The fortress was apparently one of three of the fortresses mentioned during the reign of Salome Alexandra wife of Alexander Jannaeus. The other two were……..
