Mukawir

Mukawir مكاور
Village
Mukawir Location within Jordan
Coordinates: 31°34′0.1285″N 35°38′6.1887″E
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Madaba Governorate
Elevation	730 m (2,400 ft)
Area code	+(962)5

Mukawir (Arabic: مكاور, romanized: Mukawir) is a Jordanian town located in the Madaba Governorate approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the capital Amman.

The village is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east from the ruins of Machaerus, a hilltop fortress overlooking the Dead Sea, where John the Baptist was beheaded around 32 AD.

Mukawir contains ruins of three 7th-century Byzantine churches, as well as several traditional houses from the early 20th century. In 2010, it had a population of around 400 people.

The village is witnessing increasing tourist numbers and cultural activities, including a performance of the Handel's Messiah in 2026.

History

The ruins of the hilltop fortress of Machaerus as seen from the village of Mukawir with the Dead Sea in the background, 2007.

Bedouin couple in their tent, either in Mukawir or the nearby Zerqa-Maeen area, 1930.

Stone house either in Mukawir or the nearby Zerqa-Maeen area, 1930.

The village is located two kilometers east from the ruins of the fortress of Machaerus, which is located on a hilltop overlooking the Dead Sea. The fortress was where John the Baptist was beheaded around 32 AD, after having criticized Herod Antipas' new marriage as adulterous.

The Jordanian Department of Antiquities conducted a excavation of a Byzantine church in Mukawir in 1965. This was followed by the Franciscan Biblical Institute, which began its excavations at the ruins in 1978. The institute excavated a second Byzantine church in 1989.

The modern village is inhabited by the Bani Hamida bedouin tribe. In 2010, it reportedly had around 400 inhabitants. It was visited by a western travelers Henry Baker Tristram in 1872, and Claude Reignier Conder.

Bishop Malichius Church

The Church of Bishop Malichius is located south of the road passing through the modern village, east of the Western Church. The church is a three-aisled basilica measuring approximately 21.5 × 15 meters, with remains of a mosaic floor. It likely dates to the first half of the 7th century AD.

The bishop after whom the church is named was previously unknown. He was associated with the episcopal see of Madaba. A Greek inscription in the northern aisle records the names of Sergius and George, described as "servants of Christ". Both individuals are also attested by inscriptions in other churches in the Madaba region.

The Northern Praying Hall

The church is situated on the northern slope of the hill occupied by the village. It is a small, single-aisled church or chapel measuring approximately 13.65 × 6 m. Its date of construction is unknown.

The Western Church

Ruins of a church stands on the western edge of the village, south of the road leading toward Machaerus, measuring approximately 20 × 19 meters. Its mosaic floor was decorated with motifs of vines, trees, and birds. Some of the representations were later damaged during the period of Byzantine Iconoclasm. Although the site has been examined, no archaeological excavation of the church has been carried out. The investigations identified the remains as a basilica with three aisles. A mosaic band discovered within the church has been dated by Piccirillo in 1995 to 603 AD. Little visible evidence of the original church survives, making its architectural remains difficult to identify.

Heritage houses

Mukawir contains several houses from the 1940s, nine of which were acquired by the Jordanian government during the 1990s, restored, classified as heritage houses as examples of the village's historic architecture. The houses generally consist of one or two rooms. Many families also continued to live in caves for extended periods, reflecting the pastoral character of the local community.

Cultural activities

Performance of Handel's Messiah on 12 September 2026, by Jordanian and European artists, with Machaerus in the background.

Machaerus lit up during sunset on the day of the performance.

The village of Mukawir since 2020s has been witnessing increased number of tourists and activities.

In 2020, a Lebanese musical theatrical performance depicting the story behind the beheading of John the Baptist was staged in the village overlooking Machaerus, attended by approximately 500 people.

The Messiah's Handel

On 12 September 2026, more than 2,500 people attended a sunset performance of Handel's Messiah at Mukawir, with the fortress of Machaerus in the background. Organised by Friends of Jordan Festivals and with the support of the European Union under the theme "Echoes of Faith, Voices of Heritage," which brought together Jordanian and European performers and was held under the patronage of Prince El Hassan bin Talal.

The performance featured the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, alongside soloists and musicians from Jordan and Europe. The programme included selections from Messiah, ending with the "Hallelujah" Chorus. The event highlighted Mukawir's religious and historical significance and was presented as the beginning of a cultural and spiritual programme leading toward Jordan's commemorations of 2,000 years since Christ baptism in 2030.

See also

• Machaerus