This ancient fortress is a high isolated bedrock plateau that overlooks the turquoise waters of the Dead Sea, and is today the second most visited destination in Israel besides Jerusalem. Masada represent is a symbol of great Israeli national pride, and Israeli soldiers make the oath there,“ Masada shall not fall again.”

 

On your Israel tour you will ascend Masada high above on a cable car to the top of the rock plateau, more then 1,300 feet high above the Judean desert. Here you will witness and amazing panoramic view and tour the first century Synagogue, King Herod’s Bathhouse, and ruined storehouse, barracks, armory, cisterns and other excavations in Masada.

 

History accounts of Masada are primarily all written by the Jewish Roman historian Josephus in the 1st century. The fortress was first built and fortified by Alexander Jannaeus in the 1st century BCE, after Herod the Great captured it and constructed a lavish palace and additional structures atop Masada. Later in 66 CE, a Jewish rebel group, named the Sicarii, fortified them selves on Masada and pushed back the Roman garrison. The Sicarii continued to increase in numbers atop Masada after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. The Roman Empire wanting to make an example of Jewish rebels laid siege to the fortress in 73 CE when the Roman governor Lucius Flavius Silva ordered the Roman Legion X Fretensis to attack. The Roman legion surrounded the Masada, and built a ramp against the western face of the plateau, which in line with geological investigations showed a 375 foot high attack ramp built from rocks and dirt from this area. After the Roman ramp was finished the rebels living in Masada likely fought against a three to four month siege of their homes atop Masada, with a final breach to the fortress with an enormous battering ramp on April 16 from an attack of 15,000 troops headed by the Roman X Legion, other army units, and Jewish prisoners. In response to the final attack the Jewish resistance set Masada buildings on fire, except the food storage room to demonstrate the resistance was well stocked, and the inhabitants instead of surrender committed mass suicide, with the exception of a few surviving children and women. 

 

Today the fortress is a incredible destination with tourist from all over the world, and special occasions and ceremonies such as weddings, and bar, and bat Mitzvahs. Besides a wonderful Israel tour excursion atop Masada, here you will enjoy an excellent tourist facility with food, and shopping for great gift products in particular with wellness products derived straight from the rich minerals provided by the Dead Sea.