CALLIROE. - A region of thermal springs east of the Dead Sea, a little south of Zerqà Mà'in, called by the Arabs Hammàm ez-Zàrà. In a broad amphitheatre 4 km long and 2 km wide, beneath a thick tufa terrace, are springs ranging from 45 to 57 degrees. The natives lie upon the terrace, from whose pores sulphurous vapours issue, to cure their rheumatism.
It was also known in antiquity by the Greek name meaning “beautiful spring” (Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Ind., XVII, 6, 5; Bell. Ind., I, 33, 5; Pliny, Hist. Nat., V, 16), and Herod the Great, in the last months of his life, vainly sought there a cure for his terrible illness (Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Ind., loc. cit.). The remains of a Roman-period bathing establishment may still be seen there. The place is marked on the mosaic map of Madaba with the indication: “Baths of Calliroe.”
Some Palestinian scholars have believed they could identify, in the toponym given by the Arabs to the whole body of waters, the Sereth element of the city of Haš-Sabar (Jos. 13, 19; I Chron. 4, 5–7).