The Al-Subayba (Nimrod) Fortress, Towers 11 and 9

Author

Hartal; Moshe

Year

2001

Publisher

Israel Antiquities Authority / ____ _______

Language

English

Pages

Link

Last Update

23-Mar-2026

Keywords

Archaeology

Description

Al-Ṣubayba (Mivẓar Nimrod, Qal‘at Namrud), the largest medieval fortress in Israel, is built on an elongated spur descending from Mt. Ḥermon to Banias (Fig. 1; map ref. 2170/2955). It is cut off from the massif by Naḥal Govta on the north and Wadi Naqib on the south. The spur can be conveniently approached only from the east.

The ruins of the fort have drawn the attention of travelers and scholars (Ellenblum 1989: 103, n. 2). Its most elaborate description is by Deschamps (1939:144–174), whose plan of the fortress is the basis for all subsequent plans published to date; the...