Marid Castle, Military fortress in Dumat Al-Jandal, Saudi Arabia
The rectangular stone and mud structure features four conical towers at each corner, with two main entrances located at the southern and northern sides.
First mentioned in third century records during Queen Zenobia's failed invasion, the castle served as a strategic military outpost for defending the region.
Archaeological excavations near the fortress revealed Nabataean and Roman ceramics dating back to the first and second centuries, indicating early settlement patterns.
The castle includes a 1,000-step stairway on its southern side, requiring approximately thirty minutes for visitors to reach the summit viewing area.
Standing 620 meters above sea level, the fortress provided guards with extended views across Dumat Al-Jandal to detect approaching military forces.
Location: Al-Jowf Province
GPS coordinates: 29.81133,39.86734
Latest update: August 30, 2025 13:29
Saudi Arabia contains a wide range of historical locations spanning multiple periods, from Islamic holy sites to pre-Islamic archaeological remains. The country encompasses both religious destinations that draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually and ancient settlements that reveal trade networks and civilizations dating back thousands of years. Among the most significant are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Nabatean tombs at Al-Ula, and prehistoric rock art in various desert regions. The collection includes sacred sites such as the Great Mosque in Mecca with its Kaaba and Zamzam well, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and pilgrimage locations like Mount Arafat and the ritual grounds at Mina. Archaeological sites preserve evidence of earlier inhabitants, including Madain Salih with its 111 rock-cut Nabatean tombs from the first century, the petroglyphs of Hail dating back 10,000 years, and the sandstone formations of Al-Ula. Urban centers like Riyadh feature the Masmak Fortress from 1865, while Jeddah's historic port district displays traditional coral stone architecture. Together, these locations document the religious, commercial, and cultural development of the Arabian Peninsula across millennia.
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