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Al Karak: Masalat Al Balou
Al-Balou’ is located 25 km north of Karak. Al-Balou’ is a fortress built by the Moabites to protect the royal road passing through the Arnon River (Sil al-Mujib). The importance of the site goes back to the discovery of (the Baloo’ Obelisk) in 1930 by the traveler Head, who dated it in 1200 (BC).
The obelisk is a basalt stone with a thickness of thirty to thirty-three centimeters. The obelisk bears a drawing of the Moabite king receiving the scepter from the Egyptian God and behind him the God Hatour.
This stele which is today on display at the Jordan Museum was discovered in Al-Balu’ Wadi in the Karak governorate in 1930, and it dates back to 1151-1109 BC according to radioactive carbon tests. It is thought that this is a commemorative stele for the coronation ceremony of a Moabite King by two deities. The influence of ancient Egyptian civilization can be clearly seen. The Kingdom of Moab existed throughout the Iron Age (1300-500 BC) with Dhiban as its capital. Moab s lands stretched throughout the eastern hills and beaches of the Dead Sea, and the Kingdom was surrounded by the Kingdom of Ammon to the north and the Kingdom of Edom to the south. These Kingdoms were one of the first local civilizations in the lands east of the Jordan River.