Nimrod's Fortress
By Ryan Jones
Mistakenly linked to the biblical figure Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-9), the fortress was built in the 13th century AD by Al-Aziz 'Othman high in the foothills of Mt. Hermon. 'Othman hastily built the fortress as a defensive position against the Crusader army of Fredrick II, whose troops were advancing from Acco to Damascus, seat of 'Othman's governorship.
In the late 13th century the fortress was captured by the royal sultan Baybars and transformed into a massive fortified complex. Many of the inscriptions recovered at the site attest to Baybars' control of the fortress.
Nimrod's Fortress sits high above the surrounding valleys and forests, offering a spectacular view of the northern Galilee and Golan regions. In addition, much of the site has been successfully excavated, revealing large defensive networks and even secret tunnels.
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