Masada

Masada

Masada is one of the most thrilling and frequently-toured places in the Holy Land, and relates a story of perseverance and power, faith and surrender, ambitions, and a tragic end. Masada is a place where battles were waged with rocks and flaming arrows, as well as battles of the human spirit.

Masada is situated on the top of a mountain with steep sides and a flat top like a parapet overlooking the desert panorama to the west and the Dead Sea to the east. The thrilling story of the site reveals the courage of the defenders of Masada and their battle against the conquering Romans.

The story, related against the background of the ancient landscape, is as thrilling as a Hollywood movie, and is filled with tension, struggle, and love.

The fortress of Masada was built in the year 30 BCE by King Herod, whose architectural feats have left their mark throughout the country. At the beginning of the great revolt against Rome in the year 68 BCE, the site was conquered by a group of Jewish zealots, and Masada became their last stronghold. In the year 72 the Romans besieged Masada and succeeded in reaching the steep fortress after constructing a huge earthen ramp on its western side. In the year 73, the 960 Jewish zealots living at the top of Masada chose to commit suicide rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans alive. Their deeds left behind a legend of courage, heroism, and martyrdom.
The remains of the fortress of Masada are well-preserved and have been reconstructed in an effort to pay homage to the site and its heroic inhabitants.

The most impressive structure on Masada is King Herod’s northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below. Near the palace is a large Roman style bath house with a colourful mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals. Many other buildings at the site – such as the luxurious western palace, the mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), storerooms, watchtowers, and synagogue relate the history of Masada, especially when viewed with artifacts such as storage containers, decorated pottery, scrolls, and coins.

The beautiful embossments and murals that were discovered on the walls of buildings on Masada were restored by Italian experts to preserve them for years to come. This is the largest and most complete Roman siege camp that remains today.

Masada is extremely high, and can be ascended on foot by the winding “snake path” or by a cable car that runs from the tourist centre at the feet of Masada to the top.
The tourist centre also features a movie about the story of Masada, a model of the site, and an exhibit of the archaeological findings.
A visit to Masada is a thrilling and exciting experience. The disturbing story and the archaeological remains contribute to the special atmosphere of the site, and preserve its magnificent past. In the year 2000 readers of Traveller Magazine rated Masada as the best tourist site of its type in the world, and in 2001 UNESCO declared Masada a World Heritage Site.