Alexandrion
Hasmonean wall at Alexandrium
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 Shown within the Palestinian territories
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| Alternate name | Alexandrion, Sartaba |
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| Location | Jericho Governorate, West Bank |
| Region | Judea |
| Coordinates | 32°5′45″N 35°27′41″E / 32.09583°N 35.46139°ECoordinates: 32°5′45″N 35°27′41″E / 32.09583°N 35.46139°E |
| Type | Fortification |
| History | |
| Builder | Probably Alexander Jannaeus |
| Founded | 1st century BC |
| Abandoned | About 70 AD |
| Periods | Hellenistic to Roman Empire |
Alexandrion or Alexandrium, sometimes referred to as Sartaba, was a fortress constructed by the Hasmoneans between Scythopolis and Jerusalem on a pointy barren hill towering over the Jordan Valley from the west. It was likely named after Hasmonean king Alexander Jannæus (104-77 BCE).
The fortress called Alexandreion in Greek, simplified to Alexandrion and Latinised to Alexandrium, is mentioned by Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews. It was mentioned in the Mishna and Talmud as Sartaba, and is now called Qarn Sartabe (lit. "Horn of Sartabe") in Arabic.
Alexandrium was constructed by the Hasmoneans near the border with Samaria to accommodate a military garrison, as well as to guard political prisoners. It is later mentioned during Pompey the Great's conquest of Judea as a stronghold of Aristobulus II: "...as he passed by Pella and Scythopolis, he came to Corem, which is the first entrance into Judea when one passes over the midland countries, where he came to a most beautiful fortress that was built on the top of a mountain called Alexandrium, whither Aristobulus had fled/"
The Alexandreion was restored by Herod the Great, a task he assigned to his brother Pheroras. Herod gave it the character of a palatial desert fortress, similar to those he built or rebuilt at Masada, Herodion and Machaerus. Herod used the fortress as a prison for his political opponents, holding his wife Mariamne and her mother Alexandra there in 30 BCE. It was also the burial site of Alexander and Aristobulus, two of his sons Herod had executed at Sebaste in 7 BCE.
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