Masada - how the impregnable fortress of King Herod fell. Masada fortress - the last line of defense of the Jews Masada fortress history
Masada (fortress)
The plateau on which Massada is located
fortress walls
Massada cable car
On top of one of the rocks of the Judean Desert, rising 450 meters above the Dead Sea, in 25 BC. e. King Herod I the Great, a descendant of the Edomites who converted to Judaism, built a shelter for himself and his family, significantly strengthening and completing the fortress of the Hasmonean period that existed on this site, built in 37-31 BC. A lot of food and weapons stocks were preserved in the fortress, a skillful water supply system, baths, according to the Roman model, were arranged. The fortress was also used to store royal gold.
Sheer cliffs surround Massada from all sides. Only from the side of the sea does a narrow, so-called snake path. The top of the rock is crowned by an almost flat trapezoidal plateau, the dimensions of which are approximately 600 by 300 meters. The plateau is surrounded by powerful fortress walls with a total length of 1400 meters and a thickness of about 4 meters in which 37 towers are arranged. On the plateau, palaces, a synagogue, armories, pits for collecting and storing rainwater, and other ancillary buildings were built.
In the fortress, the palace of King Herod, the synagogue, fragments of mosaics, water reservoirs carved into the rocks, cold and hot baths, and much more have now been preserved.
One of the most striking finds is the synagogue. It was believed that the Jews had no need for synagogues as long as they had the Temple. Massada was reconstructed during the existence of the Second Temple, but the synagogue in it, nevertheless, was created. In addition, the synagogue was also found in the ruins of the Gamla fortress. This proved that among the ancient Jews, the existence of synagogues did not depend on the existence of the Temple.
In 66 a.d. e. Massada was taken by the rebellious Zealots, the Roman garrison was slaughtered. In 67 CE, the Sicarii settled in Massada, representatives of a radical party that led an uprising against the Romans that resulted in a long Jewish war. In 70 AD, after the capture of Jerusalem by the Roman legions, Massada was the last stronghold of the rebels. The defenders of the fortress barely numbered about a thousand people, including women and children, but they held Massada for another three years.
About nine thousand slaves made roads and carried earth for the construction of a siege rampart around the fortress and platforms for throwing machines and a battering ram. When the Romans managed to set fire to the inner defensive wall, additionally built by the sicarii, consisting of wooden beams, the fate of Massada was decided.
Unwilling to surrender to the Romans, the Sicarii decided to commit suicide. A lot was cast, ten executors of the last will were chosen, who stabbed all the defenders of the fortress, women and children, and then one of them, chosen by lot, killed the rest and committed suicide. The story of the massacre in the fortress was told by a woman who hid in a water tank and therefore survived.
For some time, the history of the defense of Massada was considered a legend, but a comparison of Jewish and Roman historical chronicles, including the book of Josephus Flavius "The Jewish War", and archaeological finds on the territory of the fortress, including stone tablets with names used as lots by ten executors of the last will, convince of the opposite.
There is also a version that when the Romans broke through the fortress wall, the defenders of the fortress set fire to all the buildings. However, no human remains and/or graves have ever been found on the territory of the fortress (it is worth recalling that we are talking about about a thousand people, which is quite a lot for such a relatively small area), so not a single version has yet found a sufficiently strong confirmation.
The ruins of the fortress were first discovered in 1862. Fundamental excavations were carried out in 1963-1965. Since 1971, a funicular has been operating on Massada connecting the foot of the cliff with its top. You can also climb on foot to the gates of the fortress along the "snake path" winding along the eastern side of the cliff.
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Masada- (Masada), a fortress on the west. shore Dead Sea(out. 395 m). In 37 31 years. BC. Herod the Great fortified the fortifications, probably laid down in the 2nd century BC. BC, built two palaces, baths and aqueducts. In 66 AD M. was conquered from Rome ... The World History
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- (ancient Hebrew Metsada) an ancient Jewish fortress near south coast Dead Sea. Founded at the end of the 2nd century BC. e. Under Herod I (73-4 BC), a palace complex and additional fortifications were built. In the Jewish War 66 73 (See ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
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Massada Israel- a lonely mountain fortress in the heart of the Holy Land, where an amazing and chilling story took place 2 thousand years ago. Here a small handful of Jewish rebels challenged the most powerful army of the time, the army of Rome.
HISTORY OF MASSADA FORTRESS
And so, all in order, it was 66 AD, Judea captured by the Romans, the region was in revolt, the despotic Roman authorities were trying to prevent the uprising of the Jews, and they were doing it with incredible cruelty. A small handful of devout Jews, called Zealots, managed to take refuge in the Judean Desert.
They took refuge in a 1st century B.C. King Herod of the mountain fortress. For Herod, the fortress served as a safe haven in the event of an uprising or invasion of enemy troops. It was an unprecedented example of engineering art. The very geography of Massada made it impregnable. Mount Massada rises 450 meters above the level of the Dead Sea, and its top is a flat diamond-shaped platform measuring 650 m by 300 m. The fortress was well supplied with food and had good defensive structures, so the zealots could hold out here for a very long time.
Moreover, it was possible to go upstairs only along a narrow snake path, along which, in their opinion, the Roman army certainly would not pass.
After the fall of Jerusalem in 70, its last defenders fled to Massada, among them was Elazar ben Yair, who then led the rebels. As Massada's population grows, she attracts the attention of Rome's new general, the cunning Flavius Silva. It was a great opportunity for him to prove himself.
For 73 years, 8,000 Roman soldiers stood around the fortress. It soon became clear that the Romans were building more than just camps at the foot of Massada. From wood and earth, they built a huge mound leading directly to the walls of Massada. And when the height of the embankment reached 70 meters, the Romans raised a huge 30-meter siege tower with folding bridges along it and made a hole in the fortress wall. They managed to set fire to the inner wall built by the rebels without difficulty.
And then Elazar ben Yair, recognizing that all is lost, delivered a fiery speech to the rebels, urging them to die free people - preferring death to shameful and painful slavery.
They could have surrendered, but they preferred to remain unconquered to the end, choosing freedom at any cost. Each of the men killed their wives and children, and then they chose ten people by lot to slaughter the rest. Then these ten cast lots to choose the one who was to kill nine of his comrades, and then himself. So they killed all 960 people in the firm belief that they did not leave a single living soul over which the Romans could abuse.
The next day, the Romans who climbed Massada found only piles of dead bodies, but did not rejoice at the sight of their dead enemies, but only froze in mute silence, struck by the greatness of their spirit and indestructible contempt for death.
The rumor about the act of the defenders of Massada spread far beyond the fortress, and over time this event became one of the iconic moments in Jewish history. Massada has become a symbol of Jewish heroism.
In the history of the defenders of the fortress of Massada, the human mind finds something attractive and frightening at the same time. This legend has given rise to a controversial attitude towards it. Some believe that even after 2 thousand years this story, about the preference for death over captivity, continues to fascinate. Others believe that the shocking act of Elazar and the Zealots is nothing more than a manifestation of religious extremism.
But be that as it may, it can be asserted with certainty that the history of the fortress of Massada cannot leave anyone indifferent. No wonder Massada is one of the most visited places in the State of Israel.
Most The best way for sightseeing in Israel is to rent a car. You can read about how to rent a car in Israel, about the rules of the road and parking
Opening hours of Massada Park and Funicular:
April to September: 8.00 – 17.00 October to March: 8.00 – 16.00
On Saturdays and public holidays, the park is open as usual. On Friday and on the eve of holidays, it closes for visiting an hour earlier, before Judgment Day - at 12.00. The park is closed on Judgment Day.
He stood on top of a sheer cliff. Behind the back - the sea, at the foot - thousands of Romans besieging the fortress, which became the last refuge of his people, who rebelled against the power of the Roman conquerors.
“We will die, but we will die free,” Elazar ben Yair, the leader of the Sicarii, a radical part of the Jewish community, addressed the people. - Our ancestors did not have such an opportunity. They died as slaves. We will die free people, so as not to bring joy to our enemy to mock us.
About a thousand warriors first killed their wives and children, and then they cast lots and chose ten, who were given the right to kill all the other male Sicarii with daggers. Strong warriors died hugging the bodies of their children. Better to die than be enslaved, they were convinced. The last remaining sicarii killed himself.
It happened in 73 AD - the night before the fall of Masada - one of the most ancient fortresses remaining in the world. Masada is the fortress of freedom. So and only so the descendants of the ancient Sicarii call it today.
History of the fortress
Masada is listed world heritage UNESCO. The fortress was built over 2 thousand years ago on a sheer cliff at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. dead sea the great Herod I, king of the Edomites who converted to Judaism. He was known as a cruel tyrant, but he was also a great builder. He built Masada for two purposes: to protect himself and his family and to hide huge reserves of royal gold there.
Masada still looks impregnable. A narrow path, called a snake, on the one hand, and an embankment built by the Romans during the siege of the fortress on the other - that's all the approaches to the fortress. A four-meter two-row wall, 36 watchtowers, four gates and sheer cliffs reliably protected Masada from enemies.
The ancient fortress of Herod was a model of engineering for those times. In addition to the two royal palaces, complex hydraulic structures were located on the plateau, providing the inhabitants of the fortress with water, as well as cold and hot baths, warehouses for weapons and provisions, and a synagogue.
Jewish War
After the death of Herod the Great, Judea was captured by the Romans. It was a terrible era for the Jews. The second Temple of their faith, built by Herod, was destroyed, the Jews were enslaved, their faith was trampled. All this led to the fact that in 66 AD a rebellion broke out there. It was headed by the radical part of Judea - the sicaria. The uprising was the beginning of the Jewish War.
In the 70th year, the tenth Roman legion arrived in Judea, which dealt a crushing blow to the rebels. The last group of Sicarii, about 1000 people, took refuge in the fortress of Masada. And her siege began.
9 thousand slaves built embankments for the Romans to install rams and start an assault on a seemingly impregnable fortress. Masada's defenders responded by building another inner defensive wall. But the Romans set fire to it. And when it became absolutely clear that the fortress could not be held, the rebels decided to kill themselves and their children in order to die free, not slaves.
Lost fortress. Start recovery
After the fall of the defenders of Masada at the beginning of the first millennium, the Roman legions stood there for several decades, but then they left. The fortress was deserted and began to collapse.
Its remains were found only in 1862, but only a hundred years later real excavations began here.
Today, Masada is almost completely restored. Where the historical part ends and the restored part begins, there is a solid black line.
Surprisingly, a lot has been preserved in the fortress. And the Northern Royal Palace (a stunning three-level structure hanging over a cliff), and a synagogue, and water tanks. Archaeologists have even found those nameplates that the Sicarii drew lots to determine ten warriors who would kill all the Jews who were still alive before the surrender of Masada.
A special spirit of freedom, grandeur and loneliness reigns here.
Underfoot is the endless desert and the deserted Dead Sea. A stunning view opens from the western part of the fortress, from the side of the desert.
The fortress really makes a strong impression. Especially the three-level royal palace, which is perfectly preserved. There, by the way, there was another one, from the western part of the fortress, which was considered the official residence of Herod. But little is left of it.
But in detail you can see the ancient synagogue. The fact that she was found there in principle is an important historical discovery. It used to be thought that the Jews did not build synagogues as long as the Temple existed for them. The period of construction of Masada refers to the era of the Second Temple, that is, it was, but the synagogues, nevertheless, were built by the Jews.
But this, of course, is a fact that interests scientists more. And for tourists it will be more interesting just to look down from the cliff.
There, at its foot, the land dried up by the sun still keeps the places of parking of the Roman legionnaires. In 73, the tenth Roman legion under the command of Flavius Silva surrounded the fortress, setting up several camps. Here are the contours of these very camps and are visible from the fortress walls. And the embankment built by the slaves to lay siege to the fortress is now used by the Israeli army.
Even in Masada, ancient frescoes, mosaics, and drawings have been preserved. Water tanks, floors above water tanks - to keep rooms cool. It is worth looking at it just because the age of these things is more than two thousand years!
Masada - for tourists
Today Masada is one of the main attractions of Israel. For the convenience of tourists, a guest house was erected here, where you can not only sit comfortably, leave your car under a canopy and have a bite, but also watch a documentary film about the history of the fortress, get acquainted with the preserved artifacts.
The funicular, which has recently started working here, will take you to the fortress itself.
Masada also regularly hosts classical music festivals. For several days a year, the fortress turns into an amphitheater with excellent acoustics and amazing historical surroundings. And, of course, it is impossible to miss the amazing pyrotechnic shows, when the Legend comes to life against the backdrop of illuminated mountains.
Masada is an ancient fortress located near Israeli city Arad, at south coast Dead Sea. On top of one of the rocks of the Judean Desert, rising 450 meters above the Dead Sea, in 25 BC. e. King Herod I the Great built a shelter for himself and his family, significantly strengthening and completing the fortress of the Hasmonean period that existed on this site.
Sheer cliffs surround Masada from all sides. Only from the side of the sea, a narrow, so-called "serpentine path" leads up. It is still possible to climb up to the fortress along this path. However, now there is another way for tourists - the cable car.
The top of the rock is crowned by an almost flat trapezoidal plateau, the dimensions of which are approximately 600 by 300 meters. The plateau is surrounded by powerful fortress walls with a total length of 1400 meters and a thickness of about 4 meters, in which 37 towers are arranged. Palaces, a synagogue, armories, pits for collecting and storing rainwater and other auxiliary buildings were built here and have survived to this day, albeit in ruins. The fortress was also used to store royal gold.
The fortress of Masada is the royal citadel of King Herod, which became the last bastion of the Zealots during the Jewish uprising. The most tragic events in the history of the Jewish people took place here - the rebels preferred mass suicide in order not to fall into Roman captivity.
Myths and facts
No one knows for sure what is fact and what is fiction, but the story of Masada intrigues with its dramatic nature.
On a high cliff in the middle of the desert, two thousand years ago, a Jewish noble named Herod sought refuge for himself and his family. He supported the Romans in the war with the Parthians, and when the Parthian became king of Jerusalem, Herod, fearing retribution, fled to the mountains. He then went to Rome, where the Roman Senate appointed him king of Judea. Herod returned, accompanied by two Roman legions.
Fearing rebellion and overthrow, King Herod built a citadel on top of a mountain in 37-31 BC. Masada means "fortress" in Hebrew. The fortress was equipped and supplied with everything necessary for the life of a large army during a long siege. Massive warehouses and fortified palaces with a labyrinth of passages ensured a safe retreat in case of war.
But Herod never had to test the strength of the citadel. After his death in 4 BC, the fortress was inherited by his son Archelaus. A few years later, Archelaus lost his throne and Judea came under direct Roman rule, and a Roman garrison was stationed in Masada.
In 66, a Jewish uprising broke out, resulting in a long Jewish war. A group of Jewish Zealots defeated the Roman garrison and captured Masada. Strategically located within reach of Roman troops inland, perfectly protected by high sheer cliffs, it was a thorn in the side of the Romans.
After the fall of Jerusalem in 70, all the surviving rebels joined the Zealots. Masada became the last stronghold of resistance. For another two years they held the fortress. In desperation, the Romans sent their tenth legion there with 10,000 soldiers and several thousand slaves to break the resistance.
It proved to be a difficult task for the Romans. They are housed in eight base camps in the desert around the cliff. On a nearby ridge, a ramp was built from wooden piles. Thus, they raised a solid platform 90 m high, reinforced the walls with wood, and laid stones on top. Catapults and a giant ram were installed on the platform.
The Romans began to attack the wall with a ram. The defenders of the fortress threw large stones down on their attackers. Hoping to force the rebels to retreat from the walls, the Romans set fire to them. By the end of the day, one of the walls was broken, but the wind turned it into a continuous mass of fire, blocking the path of the Romans. The rebels knew that their capture was inevitable in the morning.
However, when at dawn the Romans climbed through a hole punched in the wall, they were met with deathly silence. All 960 Masada defenders were already dead. After a seven-year struggle against Roman tyranny, they chose to die rather than live in slavery.
What to see
Masada is located on an isolated mountain with a large flat plateau on top, surrounded on all sides by sheer cliffs 400 m high. Only from the sea side, a narrow “snake path” leads up. Double fortress walls with towers surround the entire plateau along the perimeter.
Herod's Western Palace was the largest building. Mosaic fragments are still preserved on the walls. The Northern Palace, built on the "nose" of the plateau, cascades down three levels of rock. These were Herod's private quarters.
The most amazing deserted fortress is the huge pools carved on top of the cliff to collect rainwater. There are Roman baths with cold baths and a large steam room. The steam room was heated by a stove located behind the wall. Hot air passed under the floor, arranged on 200 clay pillars. Gender on this moment destroyed and these clay pedestals are clearly visible. There are also two pools for ritual immersion (mikveh), where the Jews were periodically cleansed of ritual impurities.
The western wall overlooks the desert below, where the Roman camps were located. The ramps still stand there, and on the plateau are hundreds of rounded, grapefruit-sized stones that were used for shooting.
There are two temples: a synagogue and a chapel. The synagogue is said to be the oldest in the world, and records have been found there that have helped reconstruct the history of Masada. Today, it is again used during the celebration of the bar mitzvah - the coming of age of Jewish boys at 13 years old. In the 5th century, Byzantine monks also built a small chapel. The monks were the last inhabitants of Masada.
No less vivid history and an abundance of sights are known ancient and in the Nahal Kziv nature reserve near Haifa, Israel is rightfully proud of such shrines as in Bethlehem and Nazareth.
The Masada fortress is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00 from April to September and from 08.00 to 16.00 from October to March. Closes one hour earlier on Fridays and holidays.
The light show is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 21.00 at summer time and 20.00 in winter.
Cost: 25 NIS (about 5.2 €), cable car 61 NIS, light show 41 NIS.
How to get there: from Tel Aviv by bus number 421, from Jerusalem by bus number 486 to the Masada Center station. You can go up to the fortress cable car from the east, or on foot along the serpentine path from the west.