Masada is a place that 99% of Jewish tourists visit on a trip to the Holy Land. It is considered by many to be sacred ground. Masada was fortified by Herod the Great and used as one of his palaces. During the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD around 1,000 Jewish Zealots occupied Masada after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. The Romans determined to wipe out these Zealots set up encampments around the hilled fortification. The ruins of several of these Roman encampments - totaling around 12,000 soldiers - are also still visible after nearly 2000 years.
After several years of trying to attack and suffering large numbers of losses, and knowing the Jews wouldn't kill their own people, the Romans used Jewish slaves to build a rock ramp up to the fortification. When it became inevitable to the inhabitants of Masada that they would be overtaken they determined that instead of being taken captive by the Romans that they would commit mass suicide.
Suicide is forbidden by Jewish law so it was determined that they would draw lots and kill each other in turn, down to the last man, who would be the only one to actually take his own life.
While we were there I heard a group of Israeli youth discussing the fact that only 30 skeletons found have been found at Masada (they received full military burial honors) and it is believed by some that the other 900+ were taken straight to heaven. This is obviously a place of great historical significance to Israel.
This is the left over "ammo" from when they were overtaken by the Romans.
The defenders here were apparently well-stocked. A story is told that they would wash their clothes and put them out on a line so the troops below could see - just to show them that they had enough to even do laundry.
These are the remains of the ramp built that ultimately led to the Roman breach into Masada.
Today there is a well-known phrase among Israelis that "Masada shall not fall again." Israel is determined to never sit back again as they are invaded but to aggressively defend themselves if necessary.
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