MACHÆRUS (anc. geog.), a citadel on the other side Jordan, near the mountains of Moab, not far from and to the north of the Lacus Asphaltites. It was the south boundary of the Peræa: situated on a mountain encompassed round with deep and broad valleys; built by Alexander king of the Jews, destroyed by Gabinus in the war with Aristobulus, and rebuilt by Herod with a cognominal town round it. Here John the Baptist was beheaded (Josephus).
Machian
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Machines. MACHIAN, one of the Molucca islands, in the East Indian Ocean, about 20 miles in circumference, and the most fertile of them all. It likewise produces the best cloves; and is in possession of the Dutch, who have three strong forts built on it.