Masada

Masada

Fortress of freedom and defiance

Masada is a rock plateau above the western shore of the Dead Sea. Herod the Great fortified it in the first century BCE as a palace and refuge. During the Jewish revolt against Rome, rebels held it after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Roman forces besieged it and built a great ramp against its western side. The ancient historian Josephus reports that when the Romans broke in, in 73 or 74 CE, most of the defenders had taken their own lives. Historians debate details of his account. UNESCO listed the site in 2001, and visitors reach the top by the Snake Path or a cable car.

Glossary: Masada