Nimrod Fortress, Golan Heights

The Nimrod Fortress (Kalat al-Subeiba in Arabic), is situated on a ridge rising some 2600 feet above sea level. This fortress in Golan Heights is named after the biblical hero Nimrod who, according to local tradition, dwelt on this summit. "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD"(Genesis 10:8-9). Although, the fortress has the name of Nimrod, he has nothing to do with the construction of the fortress.

The fortress was founded probably by the Crusaders (12^th Century AD) to defend the city of Banias from Muslims and later Muslims rebuilt (1229) it to defend their border against the Crusaders. By 1260, the Mameluk sultan Baybars conquered the fortress and brought it to its greatest splendour. At the end of the 13th century when the Crusader rule in the Holy Land ended, the fortress lost its strategic value and lost its importance. It served as a prison in the 15th century. Afterwards it was abandoned to the shepherds who wandered in that area. The fortress measures 420 m. in length and 60-150 m. in width. Abundance of Arabic inscriptions of considerable length here indicates that the fortress was maintained and strengthened mainly by the Muslims. The whole area is rich with massive towers, huge water cisterns, secret passages, dungeons and moats.

Today, the fortress is part of the Nimrod Fortress National Park in Israel. Its location at the slopes of snow filled Mount Hermon and above the serene Banias spring is more than ideal. The view from the fortress overlooking the deep, narrow valley separating Mt. Hermon from the Golan is breathtaking.