top of page

D. Banias & Nimrod Fort

â–² We started the day with breakfast in the nearby town of Rosh Pinna. Adam had his first "professional" shakshuka (eggs poached on tomato sauce). 

â–² Then we headed north to Banias Nature Reserve. Pictured are the ruins of the ancient temple of Pan, the god of the wild/nature (or as Adam refers to him "God of goats" in Greek mythology. The name "Banias" is derived from "Pan".

â–² The Banias river. It felt like a fairytale.

â–² We must have seen hundreds of these rock hyraxes. They were everywhere.

^ New friend.

â–² We saw ruins from many different era. This is Roman concrete.

â–² The Palace of Agrippa. 

â—€ The throne room!

◀▲ This water-powered mill on the Banias river served the nearby villages and the city of Banias. It also somehow rendered Adam's legs invisible.

â—€ Walking farther down the Banias river.

â—€ Until we reached the Banias falls!

â–¼ Overlooking the Banias river and guarding the road to Damascus is Nimrod Fortress, built by Sultan Al-Aziz Uthman and held alternately by Muslims, Mongols and Mamluks.

â–² Adam heading down a secret passage by the entrance to the fortress (where Shira is standing).

â—€ The secret passage opens onto this little path.

I hope there wasn't this much algae in this cistern when the fortress was occupied!

â—€ This Arabic inscription is praising Sultan Baibars for his wisdom (and magnificence) in choosing to renovate the fortress in the 13th Century.

â–¼ Imagining ourselves in the shoes of the Sultans, commanding the surrounding countryside!

bottom of page