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 Ateret  29 pictures
 1.45 minutes HQ video Somewhat south of Bnot Yaakov Bridge, on the western bank of the Jordan river, a hill with traces of a Crusader castle stands out. Ateret  Archeological excavations have not yet been held in the site, but its history is known from the historical sources. The castle was built at the point where the main road from Tiberias to Damascus crosses the Jordan river, in order to further fortify the eastern boundary of the Crusader kingdom from the Muslim threat from the north. It was also built in order to patrol the road. According to the Crusader historical sources, the castle was built some time between October 1178 and April 1179. It was called chastella, a small castle. Even back during the process of building, the castle was disturbing the Muslims, and according to the written sources, Saladin, the Jubian ruler, offered the Crusader a large sum of money in order to stop them from completing the structure, but to no avail. Only four months upon completing the castle and settling it, Saladin attacked chastella and occupied it. Furthermore, not only did the Muslims occupied the castle, they also totally ruined it. Chastella is, perhaps, the site that existed for the shortest period of time in Israeli history.      Back to Israel Index
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