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This fort was built during the later Hasmonean period to guard the fertile oasis area around Jericho. It also controlled the eastern end of the "red ascent" route between Jericho and jerusalem through the wilderness. The name honors the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus. The Alexandrium was also the site of a signal fire, one in a chain that carried news of the observation of a new moon in Jerusalem to other Jewish communities. Since the ancient Jewish calendar used lunar months, these observations were crucial for marking the new month's beginning, and hence also for properly timing the celebration of festivals.
The four storied Man Singh Palace built on the majestic Gwalior Fort. was built in 1508 by HH Man Singh Tomar who reigned between 1486 - 1516. Two stories of the palace are under ground and the third is supported by richly carved pillars and brackets such as the ones pictured. This palace is one of the finest example of Hindu architecture. The palace is built on the outer wall of the fort raised above the cliff at about 300ft. The Mughals captured the fort in 16th century and this palace was used as the state prison. It was in this palace that Aurangzeb imprisoned his brother, Murad. Murad was later killed on Aurangzeb's orders.
This is where the original entry-tunnel emerged into the colonnaded courtyard of the fortress proper.
This large rectangular area was surrounded by a double row of columns supporting a broad covered porch. This would have provided cool shade from the heat of the Judean wilderness. The columns and walls of this portico were originally covered with smooth plaster. The walls were most likely decorated with bright frescoes like those at Masada, while the pillars may have been made to resemble more expensive marble.
I'm not sure whether this opening was the mouth of a cistern or a toilet, in which case there would originally have been a stone seat above the hole.
This is a typical first-century synagogue layout, with stepped benches wrapping around three (or sometimes four) sides of a large room. As here, the ceiling was often supported by a double row of columns, and the central section of ceiling was often raised to allow for a ring of clerestory windows.
Here the main entry tunnel emerged into the colonnade surrounding the main inner courtyard of the fortress.
Estonia was one of the last parts of Europe to be christianized. As the Livonian Order crusaded through Estonia, many of the native pagans retreated to the Islands, and Muhu and Sarremaa were the least places in Estonia to be christianized.
The Muhu stronghold was the last stand. The remaining pagans offered their surrender to the crusaders in 1227 in the face of a force of 20,000 soldiers that had crossed the ice from the mainland.
They Livonians didn't accept, and besieged the stronghold instead. After 6 days they broke through, collected the remaining supplies and livestock, and then slaughtered all the Estonians who had earlier offered capitulation and agreed to accept baptism.
All thats left here is a raised ring of bushes that marks the remains of the walls, and this monument in the middle. Visually it pales in comparison to Tallinn, Kurrasarre, and all the other exciting and dramatic places we saw, but I found it incredibly gut wrenching, and one of the most poignant places we went.