Qasr Bashir

Qasr Bashir is a Jordanian desert Roman fortification that has been extraordinarily well preserved. Unlike many Roman ruins, Qasr Bashir was never rebuilt by subsequent civilisations, hence the ruins on the site are original.

As the empire extended eastward, so did the need for defenses along the Arabian border, known as the Limes Arabicus. Jordan's natural terrain played a significant role in defense, with wide swaths of parched desert acting as a natural barrier. Nonetheless, desert forts and troops were stationed along them, in part to establish relations with and defend against the indigenous nomadic people.

Built at the beginning of the fourth century AD and known as Mobene, the walls of Qasr Bashir still stand intact, reaching up to 20 feet in places, and the main entrance still stands. The massive corner towers continue to rise two storeys above the earth.

It is possible that Qasr Bashir was initially home to an auxiliary cavalry force tasked with protecting the Roman frontier and keeping the surrounding area peaceful. Soldiers would have slept on the upper floor, while stables are assumed to have existed on the bottom floor. It is estimated that up to 150 men were stationed here.

Qasr Bashir is a hidden gem for aficionados of well-preserved Roman buildings. Standing within the sturdy walls of Qasr Bashir, you will undoubtedly sense the living history of life on the outskirts of the Roman Empire.

Fans of Simon Scarrow's Eagle series may be interesting to know that his novel, The Eagle in the Sand, was set in Qasr Bashir (reported as Q'Sar Bashir in the author's notes).

Qasr Bashir is located deep in the desert; the ruins are open to the public today, and their remoteness adds to the sense of timelessness.