"Masada" Masada by WorldMeet2008

"Masada is a rugged natural fortress of majestic beauty, in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead-Sea. It is a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army in 73 CE.

It was built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire by Herod the Great , king of Judea reigned in the years 37 - 4 BCE.

The camps, fortifications and ramp that encircle the monument constitute the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day."

photo by Martin_S.

Year 70 CE, under Roman strong attack, Eleazar ben-Yair gathered all 961 dwellers of Masada and persuaded them to commit mass suicide:
"We were the very first that revolted from them and we are the last that fight against them; and I cannot but esteem it is a favor that God has granted us, that it is still in our powerto die bravely, and in a state of freedom.....Let our wives die before they are abused, and our children before they have tasted of slavery; and after we have slain them, let us bestow that glorious benefit upon one another mutually, and preserve ourselves in freedom, as an excellent funeral monument for us. But first let us destroy our money and fortress by fire; for I am well assured that this will be a great grief to the Romans... and let us spare nothing but our provisions; for they will be a testimonial when we are dead that we were not subdued for want of necessaries; but that, according to our original resolution, we have preferred death before slavery"

VTers in Masada:
Michele [VT: Jadedmuse] & Gulench

photo by FruitLover

Vters in Masada(right to left):
Vere' (Grazina), Julie (Julie&), Martin (the guide)