thumb|right|Part of Betthorus, 2009
'''Betthorus''' was a Roman legionary fortress on the Limes Arabicus. It is located in today's {{transliteration|ar|El-Lejjun}} (from ''Legio''), Karak Governorate, Jordan,<ref>[http://mapcarta.com/12846872 Al Lajjun at Mapcarta].</ref> north-east of Al-Karak. The place is in proximity to the {{transliteration|ar|'Ain-Lejjun}} spring,<ref name=vkrp1>{{cite web |last= Linton |first= Gregory |title= Castella in Arabia |publisher= Virtual Karak Resources Project |url= http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/castella.asp |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140826172627/http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/castella.asp
|archive-date= 2014-08-26}}</ref> in a wadi of the same name, that flows into Wadi Mujib.
==Description== The rectangular fortress, measuring {{convert|190|m}} by {{convert|242|m}}, covers {{convert|11.4|acres|dunam}}. The outer wall was {{convert|2.5|m}} wide, had twenty flanking towers of semi-circular shape, four round corner towers, and a gate at each wall - major ones at north-east and north-west, and minor ones at the other two. A church is dated to 500. It was damaged by earthquakes in 363, 505, and 551.
==History== Legio IV Martia was stationed there in the 4th century. The troops were removed around 530,{{clarify |Huge gap. What happened in the 5th c. + in 500-530? Or mistake, not 4th but 5th century? |date=July 2025}} after the Ghassanids were charged with the defense of the border.<ref name=vkrp2>{{cite web |last= Linton |first= Gregory |title= The End of the Roman Frontier in Arabia |publisher= Virtual Karak Resources Project |url= http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/frontier-end.asp |access-date= 2014-09-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140826224705/http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/frontier-end.asp |archive-date= 2014-08-26 |url-status= dead}}</ref>
In the 1980s, S. Thomas Parker excavated the site.<ref name=vkrp3>{{cite web |last= Linton |first= Gregory |title= Legionary Fortresses in Arabia |publisher= Virtual Karak Resources Project |url= http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/legionary-fortresses.asp |access-date= 2014-09-03 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140826171215/http://www.vkrp.org/studies/historical/roman-forts/info/legionary-fortresses.asp |archive-date= 2014-08-26 |url-status= dead}}</ref>
==See also== *Castra/castrum, Roman army camp/fort
==External links== *{{DAAHL link|353100514}}{{dead link |date=July 2025}} *{{cite web |author= Parker, S. T. |author2=DARMC |author3= Talbert, R. |author4= Gillies, Sean |author5= Åhlfeldt, Johan |author6= Becker, Jeffrey |author7= Elliott, Tom |title= Places: 697643 (Betthorus) |publisher= Pleiades |url= https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/697643 |access-date=September 2, 2014}} *[http://legionaryfortresses.info/lejjun.htm Plan, map and bibliography] *[https://acor.digitalrelab.com/index.php?s=filter=place_name:Lejjun%20(Jordan) Photos of Lejjun] at the American Center of Research
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{coord|31.2379|N|35.8683|E|display=title|type:landmark}}
Category:Archaeological sites in Jordan Category:Roman legionary fortresses in Jordan Category:Roman fortifications in Arabia Petraea
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