Betthorus was a Roman legionary fortress on the Limes Arabicus. It is located in today's (from Legio), Karak Governorate, Jordan,Al Lajjun at Mapcarta. north-east of Al-Karak. The place is in proximity to the spring, in a wadi of the same name, that flows into Wadi Mujib.
Description The rectangular fortress, measuring by , covers . The outer wall was wide, had twenty flanking towers of semi-circular shape, four round corner towers, and a gate at each wall - major ones at north-east and north-west, and minor ones at the other two. A church is dated to 500. It was damaged by earthquakes in 363, 505, and 551.
History Legio IV Martia was stationed there in the 4th century. The troops were removed around 530, after the Ghassanids were charged with the defense of the border.
In the 1980s, S. Thomas Parker excavated the site.
See also Castra/castrum, Roman army camp/fort
External links
Plan, map and bibliography Photos of Lejjun at the American Center of Research
References