Masada,
located near the southwestern shore of the Dead Sea, is
one of the most popular travel destinations in Israel.
Located on the summit of a desert mountain over 1,300
feet high, visitors may take a cable car to the top for
a few shekels or else climb to the top by way of the aptly
named the Snake Path. Once at the top, visitors can view
the Dead Sea and, in the distance, the mountains of Jordan.
Before excavations began in 1963, all information about
Masada's history came from first century Jewish historian
Josephus Flavius. In his Jewish War, Josephus writes
that Masada was first built by Jonathan the high priest.
Scholars still debate exactly which Jonathan Josephus
refers to. However, all agree that the fortress was later
fortified by King Herod around 30 BCE. Herod used Masada
as a desert palace, as well as a place of refuge. Herod
was a strong supporter of Marc Antony, so when Octavian
defeated Antony at the Battle of Actium, Herod had reason
to fear that certain groups might conspire to kill him.
Herod later convinced the emperor Augustus of his loyalty
and was named governor of all of Syria.
Among
Herod's additions at Masada were a casement wall around
the top of Masada and the magnificent three-tiered Northern
Palace. To the right is a view of the middle tier of the
palace from the top.
At the beginning of the Jewish Revolt against the Romans
in 66 CE, Masada was taken by Jewish rebel forces. As
the Romans conquered the Jews throughout the country,
Masada became the final Jewish stronghold. In 72 CE, Roman
general Silva gathered his troops and established a siege
on Masada. One of the Roman base camps can be seen at
the top of the photo to the right.
To
access Masada, the Romans built a gigantic ramp to its
summit. This impressive ramp, featured at left, still
stands today. Once the Romans reached the top, they battered
through the outer wall only to discover that the Jews
had built another inside of earth and wood. The Romans
set this wall on fire and returned to their camps, planning
to attack the next morning.
Meanwhile, Eleazar Ben Ya'it, commander of the Jews,
realized their impending defeat and gave a speech to his
men rallying them to commit suicide rather than be captured
by the Romans. To die by their own hands, he said, would
be more honorable than to allow victory to the Romans.
Once the men had killed their families, they drew ten
lots to decide who should kill the rest. The last man
fell by his own sword.
The next day when the Romans came to finish the Jews,
they found no resistance. Instead, they found two women
and three children who had managed to hide from the mass
suicide. The women told the Romans the details of what
had occurred. The Romans then established a garrison at
Masada, and the Jewish Revolt was over.
Archaeological excavations at Masada were led by Israeli
archaeologist Yigael Yadin from 1963-1965, under the harshest
of conditions. Yadin writes that the most exciting discovery
was that of eleven ostraca, each inscribed with a single
name in the same script, on a crossroads near the Northern
Palace. Yadin suggests that these ostraca may have been
the lots by which the Masada defenders chose their final
men, but he cannot say so conclusively.
Yadin also excavated the Northern Palace, all the store
rooms, the Western Palace, synagogue, and bath house among
other areas. In the synagogue, architects found the first
of a few fragmentary scrolls. At the Northern Palace,
excavators found three well-preserved bodies, which Yadin
suggests were three of Masada's final defenders. In addition,
in a cave at the southern end of Masada excavators discovered
the remains of twenty five bodies. Originally unidentifiable,
later analysis showed the remains were of both sexes,
ranging in age from childhood to sixty years old. Yadin
hypothesizes that these remains are also of Masada's defenders.
When the Romans established their garrison atop Masada
they must have disposed of the defenders' remains, and
perhaps some ended up in this cave.
Despite Yadin's reports, not everyone is fully convinced
of the dramatic story Josephus conveys about what happened
at the last stand of Masada. Controversy surrounds the
remains found in the southern cave, and some people are
convinced that no such courageous stand took place and
that the Romans actually did kill the Jews at Masada.
Regardless, Masada remains a symbol of national pride
and courage in Israel. Though an interesting tourist stop
to many, visiting Masada is a pilgrimage for others. 2,000
years later, the memory of Masada is strong in Israeli
minds, prompting the rally cry, 'Masada shall not fall
again!'
