Photograph by George Steinmetz. Ruins of Mukawir in Jordan stand out at sunrise, with the Dead Sea and the shore of the West Bank behind. Known as Machaerus in Roman times, it was occupied by King Herod when he gave the order to have the head of the Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) brought to him on a platter to please Herod’s wife, Herodias just before the Passover . Yahya had been critical of this union (Herodias was formerly the wife of Herod's brother), and Yahya's beheading was ordered as part of Herod's birthday celebration in the peristyle hall (still visible today) atop Mukawir. All is in new testament Mathew 14. But what struck me when I flew over this site was the environmental degradation that had taken place in the interim. And I wondered how these dry barren hills could have supported a royal residence. For more go to @geosteinmetz #DesertAirBook #HyperArid
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