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Masada, the last Jewish stronghold during the
great revolt against the Romans, lies on top of a
cliff in the Judean desert. Built by King Herod, it
has become one of the most important symbols of the
Jewish people and State of Israel today.
Masada was first used as a fortress by the
Hashmonean Kings. King Herod built an impressive
fortress and two palaces on Masada. This Model
Depicts the three tiered palace terraced down the
northern side of the mountain.
In addition Herod built a double security wall 1400
meters surrounding the mountain, three towers, four
gates, storerooms for food and weapons, dams and
cisterns for water.
In the year 66 CE in the midst of the revolt
against Romans, Jewish soldiers occupied Masada and
settled there with their families. In the year 70
CE the Roman governor Flavius Silva set out to
conquer Masada. He built eight army camps around
the mountain. The siege ended in 73 CE, when the
Romans breached the fortified wall and they set
fire to the fortress. The commander of Masada,
Elazar Ben Yair assembled all of the surviving
people, 960 men, women, and children. In a moving
speech he called upon them to choose martyrdom as
free people instead of slavery and slaughter at the
hands of the Romans. Each man killed his own family
and then lots were drawn as to who would kill the
remaining survivors.
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