Argob

argob

stony heap, an “island,” as it has been called, of rock about 30 miles by 20, rising 20 or 30 feet above the table-land of bashan; a region of crags and chasms wild and rugged in the extreme. on this “island” stood sixty walled cities, ruled over by og. it is called trachonitis (“the rugged region”) in the new testament (luke 3:1). these cities were conquered by the israelites (deut. 3:4; 1 kings 4:13). it is now called the lejah. here “sixty walled cities are still traceable in a sp-ce of 308 square miles. the architecture is ponderous and m-ssive. solid walls 4 feet thick, and stones on one another without cement; the roofs enormous slabs of basaltic rock, like iron; the doors and gates are of stone 18 inches thick, secured by ponderous bars. the land bears still the appearance of having been called the ‘land of giants’ under the giant og.” “i have more than once entered a deserted city in the evening, taken possession of a comfortable house, and spent the night in peace. many of the houses in the ancient cities of bashan are perfect, as if only finished yesterday. the walls are sound, the roofs unbroken, and even the window-shutters in their places. these ancient cities of bashan probably contain the very oldest specimens of domestic architecture in the world” (porter’s giant cities). (see bashan.)

historical examples

the identification of argob, a region of the kingdom of og, is a matter of much difficulty.
encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, volume 3, part 1, slice 3 various

during the siege of argob, however, he was seized with so severe an attack that he was forced to prepare himself for death.
history of the jews, vol. ii (of 6) heinrich graetz

there are they in argob, the oldest specimens of domestic architecture in the whole world.
the little gleaner, vol. x. various