Mukawir (Machaerus) castle is located 32 km southwest of Madaba and 70 km from the capital Amman. The castle was built in the 1st century BC on a conical-shaped hill and was named Mukawir (Machaerus) after the hill’s round shape. The Greeks called it “Machaeros”, meaning “sword”. The castle was destroyed during the Roman period in 70 AD.