In the eastern side of the Dead Sea rose the citadel of Machaerus. It was built upon a conical peak of basalt and was surrounded by four deep valleys one on each side another in front and the fourth in the rear. At the base of the citadel crowding against one another a group of houses stood within the circle of a wall whose outlines undulated with the unevenness of the soil. A zigzag road cutting through the rocks joined the city to the fortress the walls of which were about one hundred and twenty cubits high having numerous angles and ornamental towers that stood out like jewels in this crown of stone overhanging an abyss.