Masada, Israel
Masada - The Story
Masada is an amazing 300m high rock outcropping that stands separated from the surrounding escarpment by erosion. Masada was used as a Roman fortress circa 30 BCE - 70 CE and the UNESCO Masada web site states that "The camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument constitute the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day." The following is a short paraphrase of Masada's history from wikipedia. For more information please see either the UNESCO or the Wikipidea Masada site.
Masada is an ancient Roman fortress, with most of the fortifications that remain today built by the Roman King Herod (Herod the Great) in approximately 31-37 BCE. It is believed that Masada was taken by a group of Judaic extremist rebels as part of the Jewish revolt against the Romans around 66 CE. The fortress was put under siege by the Romans in 72 CE. The romans built fortifications around the entire fortress as well as a set of roman barracks. In order to take the fortress, the Romans built an enourmous ramp that allowed their seige engines to approach the walls of the fortress.
The surrounding Roman wall, the Roman barracks, and the ramp can be clearly seen in Google Earth imagery. In addition, one can see the path that you can take to climb the cliffs of the fortress today. Of course you can also take an arial tram if you are too lazy or on a time line (like we were).
According to some historians, the ramp was completed in 73 CE (there is debate about how long the siege actually was, ranging from several months to three years). When the Romans breached the walls of the fortress and entered Masada they found no one left alive (or at least very few people). Rather than serve the Romans in slavery the Judaic rebels chose to end their lives. Because Judaism frowns on suicide, the rebels selected a small number of their soldiers to kill all of the occupants of the fortress. The remaining soldiers then drew lots, with one soldier chos
Masada is an ancient Roman fortress, with most of the fortifications that remain today built by the Roman King Herod (Herod the Great) in approximately 31-37 BCE. It is believed that Masada was taken by a group of Judaic extremist rebels as part of the Jewish revolt against the Romans around 66 CE. The fortress was put under siege by the Romans in 72 CE. The romans built fortifications around the entire fortress as well as a set of roman barracks. In order to take the fortress, the Romans built an enourmous ramp that allowed their seige engines to approach the walls of the fortress.
The surrounding Roman wall, the Roman barracks, and the ramp can be clearly seen in Google Earth imagery. In addition, one can see the path that you can take to climb the cliffs of the fortress today. Of course you can also take an arial tram if you are too lazy or on a time line (like we were).
According to some historians, the ramp was completed in 73 CE (there is debate about how long the siege actually was, ranging from several months to three years). When the Romans breached the walls of the fortress and entered Masada they found no one left alive (or at least very few people). Rather than serve the Romans in slavery the Judaic rebels chose to end their lives. Because Judaism frowns on suicide, the rebels selected a small number of their soldiers to kill all of the occupants of the fortress. The remaining soldiers then drew lots, with one soldier chos