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Israel, 2007

MASADA

Upon the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. a band of Jewish zealots--960 survivors of the carnage in the Holy City at the hands of the Roman empire, fled Jerusalem to the Herodian fortress of Masada. Masada is located just to the south of En Gedi, on the banks of the Dead Sea. Accounts vary as to the length of time the Jewish zealots spent atop the massive mountain fortress, although most credible sources cite a period of close to three years.

As the pictures below will show, to ascend Masada without the luxury of modern day conveniences such as helicopter or trolley, is a formidable task, and once the Roman Tenth Legion reached the base of Masada, they would eventually find the only way to the top was via a constructed ramp (also shown) that would take them years, and many men, to build.

Upon realizing that their capture, and likely demise, were imminent, the Jewish zealots opted to kill themselves rather than subject their women to rape and abuse and their children to lives as slaves to the Romans. Flavius Josephus, who laid claim to recording the eyewitness accounts of a handful of women and children who escaped the siege, described the waning moments of the last Jewish stronghold in the Great Revolt against the Roman Empire. According to the Josephus account, the men killed their wives and children first, and then took their own lives.

Today, Masada remains a symbol of strength, courage, honor and survival. IDF soldiers routinely ascend the mountain to take an oath, swearing that "Masada shall not fall again."

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