Masada Located at the top of an isolated rock on the edge of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea valley. The flat top of the rock has a rhomboid shape, elongated from north to south. Its height is 440 above the Dead Sea. Isolated from its surroundings by deep gorges on all sides. Today an easy 10-minute ascent from the west, and the cable-car from the east. The "Snake Path" is still open for tourists wishing to use the ancient trail. History Herodian Period King Herod in 40 B.C. fled from Jerusalem to Masada with his family in times of danger. One of Herod's first undertakings was an intricate water supply system, that was of crucial importance in the arid climate of Masada. The entire summit was enclosed by Herod with a casemate wall - a double wall with the inner space divided into rooms. About 70 rooms, 30 towers and four gates were found in the wall. Herod constructed the most important buildings in the northern part of Masada - the highest point of the rock. Most of Herodian buildings were erected between 37 and 31 B.C. Revolt of the Jews against the Romans around 66 A.D. Roman governor Flavius Silva marched against Masada with his Tenth Legion, of 15 thousand people. The troops prepared for a long siege; they established 8 camps at the base of the Masada rock and surrounded it with a high wall, leaving no escape for rebels. Then Romans built an assault ramp to the top in 9 months. The Romans moved the battering ram up to direct it against the wall. They broke the stone wall, but the defenders built also a wall of earth and wood that was flexible and hard to break. Eventually Romans managed to destroy it by fire, and decided to enter the fortress the next day. At night Eleazar gathered all the defenders and persuaded them to kill themselves rather than fall into the hands of Romans. The people set fire to their belongings, then ten people chosen by a lot killed everyone else and then committed suicide. In the morning Romans entered a silent fortress and found only the dead. 2 women and 5 children survived the mass suicide by hiding in a cave. Describing the details of the last hours of the Masada defenders. A Roman garrison was stationed in Masada for some time after the fall. Byzantine Period During Crusaders it was inhabited. The ruins served as a retreat for monks, they also built a small church there. Later, the place was abandoned and its identity lost. Archaeology Historic Masada remained unknown till 1838, First visited by the American missionary S.W Wolcott, and the English painter Tipping. Expeditions from America, France and Germany followed. In 20th century became a symbol of courage for the emerging modern Jewish state. It was a pilgrimage site for youth movements and Haganah members. In 1949, at the end of War of Independence, the Israel flag was hoisted on Masada's summit. The first Israeli surveys of Masada were done in 1955. In 1963-65 Yigael Yadin conducted a full-scale excavation of the site, with assistance of hundreds of volunteers from Israel and abroad. They uncovered almost all the territory, and also restored many buildings. RETURN