# Marid Castle

- **Country:** Saudi Arabia
- **Coordinates:** 29.811333, 39.867339
- **Location Text:** Amir 'Abd al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Sudairi, ''The Desert Frontier of Arabia, Al-Jawf through the Ages'', 1995, , p49.

Marid Castle, known literally as "the rebellious castle," is a historic military fortress situated on a prominent hill overlooking the city of Dumat al-Jandal in the Al-Jawf region of Saudi Arabia. Rising approximately 620 meters above sea level, its strategic elevation provided defenders with commanding views of the surrounding town and approaching forces. Archaeological evidence, including Roman–Nabataean pottery recovered during excavations, dates the structure's origins to the first century AD. The fortress is architecturally distinct, featuring an originally rectangular plan that evolved into an oval shape over time. It comprises two stories, with a lower level constructed from stone and an upper level made of mudbrick, fortified by four conical towers reaching heights of about 12 meters.

The site holds profound historical significance, famously withstanding a siege in the third century by Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, whose troops failed to capture it, leading to its name referencing rebellion. Throughout the centuries, it witnessed various conflicts, including annexation by Khalid ibn al-Walid in 633 CE and damage inflicted by cannons under Governor Talal Ibn Rashid in 1853. Following extensive restoration efforts between 1995 and 2003, which consolidated facades and installed traditional tamarisk ceilings, further repairs were launched in 2018 by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. Today, Marid Castle serves as a cultural landmark and tourist attraction, housing a café and a traditional restaurant within its complex while preserving its ancient wells and guard rooms for public viewing.

![Photo of Marid Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Qasr%20Marid%201949%20by%20Tim%20Barger%206956723905.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marid_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)