A mountain-fortress near the Dead Sea that has become a symbol of the brave stand of Jewish fighters and of their love of freedom that had overcome the fear of death. Alexander Yannai was the first to build a major fortification at Masada, but the most important buildings and forts were built by King Herod (37–4 BCE). What stands today are the remains of the surrounding wall, watchtowers and a lookout point, the palace, large pools, stores for weapons and for food, the synagogue, bathhouse, mikvehs and some dwellings.
Masada acquired its fame during the Great Revolt against the Romans. The revolt broke out when Menahem the Galilean captured Masada in 66 CE and it ended in 73 CE. Under the leadership of Eleazar ben Yair, 960 men, women and children gathered at Masada after the destruction of the Temple (70 CE) in Jerusalem and held out against the besieging Romans for three years.
The Romans mobilized 8,000 soldiers for the capture of Masada, and built a great ramp, closing in on the fortress for seven months. When the defenders saw there was no hope left, they set the fort ablaze and killed themselves so that they could die as free men. The remains of the fort, the ramp and the Roman camps are well-preserved because of the very dry climate and because the site is remote from populated areas. After the fall of Masada, only a few monks lived there. A Byzantine church and a Crusader gate were built on the summit.
Masada was explored in 1938 by the American archaeologists E. Smith and E. Robinson, but after that it only served as a site for climbs by youth groups. After Israel's independence, a road was built from the Dead Sea with a cable car to provide better access. Professor Yigael Yadin conducted extensive archaeological excavations of the site from 1963 to 1966 and made numerous important discoveries. The site has been partly restored and tourist facilities have been improved for the benefit of the great numbers of people who come from all over Israel and the world to see Masada.
