Masada is located on top of an isolated rock on the edge of the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea Valley. We took a cable-car up to the top of the rock. I think Rami said it was about 440 above the Dead Sea. It was a perfect place for Herod to build a fortress to watch from all sides. Another way to reach the top, for the adventurous, was a snake path which was rather difficult to climb. Most of the buildings were done around 37 and 31 B.C.E. The Roman era was probably around 6 to 66 C.E.
Masada was the place of Jewish rebel's in 70 C.E. until the Romans built ramps to the top and tried to bring the walls down with a battering ram. Eventually they ended up destroying it by fire. In 1963 a full-scale excavation began of Masada. In two years they uncovered almost all of it and restored many buildings.
Herod first created an intricate water supply system. Twelve huge cisterns could hold about 40 thousand cu.m. of water. Herod had his palace on the northern edge of the precipice. He also constructed a western palace.
On the south side, (I think) was the large bath house. There were perforated clay pipes which a furnace drove hot air. The walls of the castle were restored to some of its original colors. There was a Church and the view from atop all areas was magnificent.
Once we finished our tour on top, we went back down in cable-cars. You could see the four areas where the Roman's had built their fortress below ground. We ate lunch at the bottom of Masada.
3/16/06 Masada National Park
Masada Entrance
Snake Path
Masada
Masada
Masada Cable car
Snake Path (Masada)
Snake Path
Roman Fortress Walls
Overlooking Masada
Beginning of View of Dead Sea
Dead Sea
Dead Sea
Dead Sea
Dead Sea
Snake Path Gate
Fortress of Masada
Buildings of Masada
Buildings of Masada
Rami
View Of Dead Sea
More Masada buildings
Buildings of Masada
Quarry
Quarry
Main Entrance
Castle Entrance
Actual walls below black line
Actual walls below black line
Actual walls below black line
Actual walls below black line
Castle
More Castle Walls
Entrance to Castle
Bathhouse Map
Masada
Masada
Remaining walls
Masada floors
Entry way
IMG_2080
Walls
Masada walls
Stone pillar walls and steps
Bath house Water underneath
Heat Pipes
Heat pipes
Scroll work
Dead Sea view
Dead Sea view
Dead Sea view
Dead Sea view
Masada Welcome Entrance below
Overlooking Roman fortress below
Dead Sea view
Dead Sea view
Herod's Castle (Northern Edge)
Pillars of Castle
Dead Sea view
We fed the birds
He wants more food
Castle layout model
Castle
Castle
Snake Path steps
Rami resting
Community Life of Rebels'
Our bird friend wants more bread!
Herod's Castle (Northern Edge)
Castle Lookout
Resting
The Synagogue story
Community
Could be lookout?
Church ?
View of area from atop Masada
Castle
Western Castle?
Masada
Castle
Overlooking West, I think
Beautiful marble rock to the West
Ralph picking up the rock
Beautiful blue of the Dead Sea
Check out pattern in the rock walls
Heading down
Awesome colors!
