The name Armageddon (or Harmagedon) likely comes from the Hebrew words har (which means “mountain” or “hill”) and Megiddo. Solomon fortified Megiddo along with Gezer in the south and Hazor in the north (1 Kings 9:15). The fortress of Megiddo stood on a hill in the largest pass through the Carmel range, strategically guarding the Jezreel Valley.
The city was on the Via Maris, the main highway between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Many armies used this route, making the site known for bloody battles. For example, Pharaoh Neco killed Josiah here on his way to fight the Assyrians (2 Kings 23:29). Armageddon became a symbol for the final conflict between God and the forces of evil.