Haj FortQatrana, Jordan The small fort was built in Ottoman times, during the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent (1520 - 1566). It protected caravans of pilgrims, making their way to Mecca through the lands of the Bedouin tribes. The south, entrance, wall is seen here. Visible military features include crenellation, machicolation, and arrow slits. A large reservoir, nearby, supplied both the fort and the caravans with water. Qatrana is located about 30km east of Karak, on the Desert Highway that runs south from Amman. |