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Bible Encyclopedias
Callirrhoe
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Καλλιῤῥόη , beautftulstream), the name given to certain warm springs on the eastern side of the Jordan, not far from, and flowing into, the Dead Sea, to which Herod the Great resorted during his last illness, by the advice of his physicians (Josephus, Ant. 17:6, 5). The same are probably meant by the yemim' (יֵמַום, Auth. Vers. "mules") of Genesis 36:24. (See ANAH). Pliny (Genesis 36:16) also describes them ("calidus fons medics salubritatis") as possessing medicinal properties (Reland, Palest. p. 302,678). In May, 1818, these springs were visited by Irby and Mangles. Of the valley of Callirrhoe they say (Travels, p. 467-469): "The whole bottom is filled, and in a manner choked up, with a crowded thicket of canes and aspens of different species, intermixed with the palm, which is also seen rising in tufts in the recesses of the mountain's side in every place whence the springs issue. In one place a considerable stream of hot water is seen precipitating itself from a high and perpendicular shelf of rock, which is strongly tinted with the brilliant yellow of sulphur deposited upon it. On reaching the bottom, we found ourselves at what may be termed a hotriver, so copious and rapid is it, and its heat so little abated. For some way the temperature is kept up by the constant supplies of water that flow into the river.
In order to visit these sources in succession, we crossed over to the right bank, and, ascending by the mountain side, we passed four abundant springs, all within the distance of half a mile, discharging themselves into the stream at right angles with its course. We judged the distance from the Dead Sea, by the ravine, to be about one hour and a half. Maclean says there was a city of the same name in the valley of Callirrhoe, in which we think he must be wrong, since there is not space for a town in the valley as far as we saw it. That Herod must have had some lodging when he visited these springs is true, and there are sufficient remains to prove that some sort of buildings have been erected." According to Josephus, the fortress of Machaerus, which was rebuilt by Herod, wasupon this hot-water stream, and not far from the fountains. It is supposed that John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded in this fortress, and that the feast was also made at Machaerus, which, besides being a strong-hold, was also a palace, built by Herod the Great, and that Herod himself was now on his route toward the territory of Aretas, with whom he was at war. The ruins of this fortress still exist (Josephus, Ant. 17:6, 5; 18:5, 2; War, 1:33, 5).
The Zurka Main, which empties itself into the Dead Sea, visited and described by Seetzen (Reise, 2:336 sq.), is described as a sweet and thermal stream, and is doubtless the outlet of the hot streams of Callirrhoe (Ritter, Erdk. 15:572, 573). Lieut. Lynch, who explored it in 1848, says: "The stream, twelve feet wide and ten inches deep, rushes in a southerly direction with great velocity into the sea. Temperature of the air, 700; of the sea, 78°; of the stream, 94°; one mile of the chasm, 95°. It was a little sulphureous to the taste. The stream has worn its bed through the rock, and flows between the perpendicular sides of the chasm, and through the delta, bending to the south, about two furlongs, to the sea. The banks of the stream along the delta are fringed with canes, tamarisks, and the castor- bean. The chasm is 122 feet wide at the mouth, and for one mile up, as far as we traced it, does not lessen in width. The sides of the chasm are about eighty feet high where it opens upon the delta, but within they rise in altitude to upward of 150 feet on each side, where the trap formation is exhibited. In the bed of the chasm there was one stream, on the south side, eight feet wide and two deep, and two small streams in the center, all rushing down at the rate of six knots per hour. There were no boulders in the bed of the ravine, which in the winter must, throughout its width and high up the sides, pour down an impetuous flood.
The walls of the chasm are lofty and perpendicular, of red and yellow sandstone, equally majestic and imposing, but not worn in such fantastic shapes nor of so rich a hue as those of the Arnon. Waded up about a mile, and saw a few date-palm-trees growing in the chasm. The turns about 200 yards apart, at first gently rounded, but subsequently sharp and anmular. There was a succession of rapids, and a cascade of four, and a perpendicular fall of five or six feet. A little above the rapid trap shows over sandstone. The current was so strong that, while bathing, I could not, with my feet against the rock; keep from being carried down the stream,; and, walking where it was but two feet deep, could with difficulty retain a foothold with my shoes off. At 7 P.M., bathed first in the sea and afterward in the stream — a most delicious transition from the dense, acrid water of the sea, which made our innumerable sores smart severely, to the soft, tepid, and refreshing watersof the Callirrhoe" (Expedition, p. 371). (See LASHA).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Callirrhoe'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/callirrhoe.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
