Dumat al-Jandal | Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia

One of the most striking antiquities in Al Jouf is the Qasr Marid in Dumat al-Jandal, a walled fortress which overlooks the ancient town. Historical sources mention the existence of this qasr at the time of the Prophet Mohammed, and its original construction is attributed to a grandson of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Its occupation by the Nabateans in the first century CE is evidenced by pottery shards excavated from the site which date from this era. Literary sources of the 8th century CE indicate that Queen Zenobia of Palmyra attacked the castle in 270 CE, but failed to conquer it.