Kerak
Kerak lies at 120Kms to
the south of Amman. It is situated on a hilltop
of 1150m overlooking the Dead Sea. It is mentioned
that it was the capital of the Moabite kingdom
during the time of king Ajlun. Kerak is an Assyrian
word which means ( Fort ).
Kerak
achieved its greatest importance during the
Crusader and Ayyubid periods to which most of
the architectural remains are dated.
The
castle is the most important antiquities of
Kerak. It was built in A.D. 1136 by Payem, the
Crusader Lord of Kerak. The Ayyubid occupied
it and the Mamluke ruler Baybars enlarged it.
It is one of the finest military constructions.
It is surrounded by a deep valley from the west
which completely isolates it from all sides.
One
of the most famous villages around Kerak is
Al-Rabbah, which was the second capital city
of King Misha Ben Koshet, one of the most well
known kings of the Moabites in the year 780
B.C. Ruins of a Roman temple can still be seen
there.
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Places & facts
