The ancient city of Madaba once fell under the rule of Herod Antipas, a figure entangled in one of history’s most dramatic stories. Around 30 years later, Antipas divorced his Nabataean princess wife—daughter of Aretas IV—to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Enraged, his rejected wife fled to Machaerus, then crossed into Nabataea, seeking refuge in Petra under her father’s protection.
It was at Machaerus that John the Baptist, who openly condemned Antipas’ divorce, was imprisoned. Here, Herodias’ daughter, Salome, performed her infamous dance and, at her mother’s urging, demanded the Baptist’s execution—a moment that would be etched in biblical history.
A visit to these historic sites offers a glimpse into the power struggles, faith, and intrigue that shaped the region’s past.