powered by FreeFind	Nimrod Castle (Kalaat Namrud) 137 pictures     4.10 minutes HQ video Nimrod Castle is one of the greatest, most impressive castles which have been preserved since the Medieval times of the Middle East. The Castle The castle dominated a main road which led from Tyre to the shore of the Mediterranean, through the northern part of the Chula Valley and the Banias river, to Damascus. The thin, long structure fit well into the unique topographical conditions of the area. Hence, its width changes accordingly, ranging from 50m to 150m. Its length may reach 420m. The Castle is surrounded by a strong wall with towers built in it. Originally, the entrance to the castle was through three gates- two southern gates, and a western gate. The castle is divided into two. Castle of Might, taking up about a quarter of the area and the lower courtyard with its structures, walls, and towers. Nimrod Castle is also known by its Arab names: Kalaat a Subaiba (the Cliff Castle), and Kalaat Namrud. The latter is connected, as the legend tells, to the Hero Hunter Nimrod, Noah's great-grandson. He was punished by God in that very place, by having a mosquito penetrating to his brain, making him giving up his religion. There is also another legend, according to which Nimrod built his castle in that very place, and from there stretched a long arm in order to draw water from the Banias. History In the Karney Hittim Battle (1187) and afterwards, the Crusaders lost their domination on most parts of Israel. Saladin, who was the head of the Jubian army during the war against the Crusaders, did try to re-occupy the country by going on more Crusades, but managed to occupy only Israel's Coastal Plane, and the Galilee. The Banias area, which fell to Muslim hands as well, was now under the control of Alaziz Ottoman, Saladin's nephew. The quarrels between the Sultan Alcamal, who lived in Egypt, and his brother Al-Muattam, the ruler of Damascus, brought about the building of the castle. In 1227, the army of the German emperor Friedrich II arrived in Israel. The Sultan Alcamal allured him to resist his brother, and even gave him Jerusalem. Almuattam, who feared that the Crusaders were about to invade Damascus and occupy her, initiated the building of the castle, with help from his younger brother, Alaziz Ottoman, in 1227, in order to defend the road leading to Damascus. When the danger no longer existed, the Jubians decided to fortify the castle and extend it westward. The construction lasted a year and was completed in 1230. In 1253, the Crusaders attempted to re-occupy the castle, but to no avail. Seven years later, when the Mongols from Asia invaded Syria and Israel, the castle was destroyed. The Mamluk army managed to stop the Mongols in Ein Jaloud (Ein Harod) Battle, which is considered one of the most important battles in history. Bibberas, one of the outstanding generals in this battle, appointed himself as the Mamluk's sultan, and bequeathed the castle to his deputy, Bilique. The new governor initiated wide scale activities of reconstruction. The construction in his day was indeed extremely fancy. It included the half-round towers. Billique also perpetuated his activity and glorified his Sultan name by an impressive inscription, dated 1275. After the Crusaders entered Israel, and were eventually exiled at the end of the 13th. Century, the castle declined. In the 15th Century, it was used as a jail for rebels, and was abandoned afterward. Ever since, it was a place of living for shepherds and their herds. A stone-sculptured lion, sultan Bibberas' royal symbol (1275 A. D.), was recently discovered in the excavations held at the Nimrod Castle National Park. Description of the Site Nimrod Castle National Park is located on the Hermon hillside, on a branch of Mt. Hermon, 815 m tall (above sea level), in the midst of a lovely mountain view. The branch becomes more steep northward, in the direction of Gubta river, and slopes downward less steeply southward, in the direction of Wadi Al Naqib. The mountain goes down west toward the Banias, and goes up east toward the Hermon. The national park is 195 acres. That is where the castle (33 acres) is located, surrounded by groves of olive treesm and natural pasture of oak trees. The Northwestern Tower The impressive gate fixed in the tower bears an inscription in Arabic dated from 1230, of the Jubian ruler, Alaziz Ottoman. It belongs, in fact, to the first stage of building. In an earthquake of 1759, the arch rocks moved, but surprisingly, did not fall off. There is some kind of balcony in front of the gate, which is part of a room where the ceiling collapsed. The room itself was built in 1275 by the castle's ruler Billique. At that point, the tower was extended, and two more levels were added to it. The huge stones with chiseling on the edges reflect a fancy style of building. The stones are scattered between the rockslides, created by an earthquake. The hole in the floor was also created at the time, and led to a well. Above the well a 7m pier was installed, through which water were brought up to the upper floor. A water closet was discovered south of that room. West of the gate tower, at the end of the "balcony", a secret passage was built. It led out of the northern wall. The path passes through the gate, goes through the yard, and turns right. The Bibberas Inscription A monumental inscription in Arabic, one of the largest ones in Mamluk times (1275). As stated, these are praising words in honor of Sultan Bibberas, who made his deputy, Billique, responsible for the renovation and building. The inscription was probably engraved on the front of the second floor, where Billique's palace was probably located. The Service Path a contemporary path, passing through an opening in the wall, leading directly into the castle. The Southwestern Tower From the top of this tower, there is a view of the Galilee, the Hula Valley, and the slopes of the Golan and Mt. Hermon. The stairs lead to an inner hall, whose shooting holes indicate that it is the original tower (those shooting holes are always in the outer wall). The tower was extended during Bibberas' day, when more shooting holes were added. Spiral stairs lead from the lot down to the rooms facing south, where there are shooting holes as well. The Great Water Reserve Its area is 225m², and it is about 7m tall. Rain waters were poured into it through a channel system that broke down. Its northern side is covered with a dome, and there are stair leading down from it to its bottom. The southern part is covered by a cross dome. An opening in the wall that was made later by shepherds makes it possible to have a glance at the reserve. Drinking Facility A drinking water facility (non active), found on the eastern side of the reserve. The water were circulating from the reserve to the drinking facility. Above the trough, there is an inscription in honor of Fahr A-din Hassan, who renovated the facility in 1240. The Moat Quarried in stone and separates the castle from its fortification tower. The path crosses the moat at the point where it is a bit clogged, but it may still be well seen on the right. At that point, the moat was crossed by a wooden bridge. At the end of the moat, on the southwestern corner of the fortification tower, the most ancient Arab inscription in the castle was found. It is dated from the time of governor Aziz Al Ottoman (1228). The Fortification Tower An independent, fortified area, towering above the castle. If the lower fortification system had been occupied, the soldiers would have been able to continue fighting and defending inside the big, strong tower. Its gate is in on the northwestern corner. Square towers were fixed on all four corners. In the space between them, there are traces of arcs of a ceremonial hall, other halls, and water pools. A steep path for skilled hikers leads down from the northeastern tower, to the national park. The Tower Observation Point This is the very point where the advantage of the tower, compared to the rest of the castle, is evident. From that point, the gorgeous views of the Hermon, the Golan, the Galilee, and the Hula Valley may be seen. The Northern Tower (The Jail Tower) The jail tower was well preserved, and was probably built by Bibberas as well. In the tower there is a main hall, with shooting holes in the walls, as well as stairs leading to the roof. From the top of the tower, one may view Mt. Hermon And the Bear Mountain. In the 15th century, the place was probably used as a jail. The Secret Passage The path returns to the northwestern tower. On the corner of the balcony, the terraced secret passage begins. It turns north. It is 27m long, 1.8m wide, and is topped by tall domes. A row of stones may be seen on the ceiling. It was removed from its original placement due to an earthquake. At the end of the passage there is a hidden opening, which was breached at the bottom of the outside of the northern wall, and was hidden by a pile of rocks. Back to Israel Index