MACHERONTE. – A mountain fort east of the Dead Sea, built by Alexander Jannaeus (Fl. Josephus, Bell. Iud., VII, 6, 2) and razed to the ground by the Romans in 57 B.C. (id., Antiq. Iud., XIV, 5, 4). It was subsequently rebuilt by Herod the Great between 25 and 15 B.C., on a larger plan, so that it might serve as both fortress and villa. For this reason Herod connected it, by a road approximately 20 km long, with the baths of Callirrhoe below. M. was one of the high places where fires were lit to announce the new moon. The castle received a severe blow during the siege conducted by Lucilius Bassus in A.D. 57. What made M. famous was the beheading of St. John the Baptist (v.), which took place there on the orders of Herod Antipas, master of the fortress, at the suggestion of Herodias (Mt. 14:1–12; Mc. 6:17–29; Lc. 9:7–9). The place is clearly mentioned by Fl. Josephus (Antiq. Iud., XVIII, 5, 2).
Since, according to tradition, the body of the Baptist was transferred by the disciples to Sebaste, rare-
At M., besides the fortress, there was also a city. At present, the ruins of the fortress can be seen on an isolated hill called Mesnekeh, and those of the city, situated below and called el-Mukawer, a remnant of the ancient name, where two churches and ornamental crosses have been noted.