UNESCO World HeritageDead Sea1st century BCE – 1st century CE

Masada

מצדה

Masada is an ancient fortress perched on a dramatic plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. Built by King Herod as a palace-fortress between 37–31 BCE, it became the last stronghold of Jewish rebels during the Great Revolt against Rome. In 73 CE, nearly a thousand Jewish men, women, and children chose death over surrender to the Roman Tenth Legion. Today, Masada is a powerful symbol of Jewish determination and one of Israel's most visited sites.

Wikimedia Commons

Berthold Werner (Public domain)

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Biblical Significance

While not mentioned in the Bible, Masada is connected to the broader narrative of Jewish sovereignty. The story of the Zealots' last stand is recorded by Josephus Flavius in 'The Jewish War.' The site echoes themes from the books of Maccabees and the broader struggle for Jewish independence.

What to See

Herod's Northern Palace — three-tiered palace carved into the cliff
Ancient synagogue — one of the oldest ever discovered
Roman siege ramp and camp outlines still visible
Sunrise cable car or Snake Path hike
Sound and light show (seasonal)

Herod's Desert Palace

King Herod the Great, Rome's appointed King of Judea, transformed this desert mesa into a lavish palace-fortress between 37 and 31 BCE. The Northern Palace is a masterpiece of ancient engineering: three terraces carved into the sheer cliff face, decorated with frescoes and columns, offering breathtaking views of the Dead Sea and the desert below. Herod built massive cisterns that collected flash-flood water, storerooms that could hold years of supplies, a Roman-style bathhouse with a caldarium (hot room), tepidarium (warm room), and frigidarium (cold room), and a swimming pool — all in one of the most remote and arid places in the ancient world.

The Great Revolt and the Last Stand

In 66 CE, Jewish rebels seized Masada from its Roman garrison, sparking what would become one of the most dramatic chapters in Jewish history. After Jerusalem fell in 70 CE and the Temple was destroyed, Masada became the last holdout. The Roman Tenth Legion (Legio X Fretensis) laid siege with 8,000 soldiers, building eight camps and a massive earthen ramp against the western cliff — a ramp still clearly visible today. According to Josephus, when the Romans finally breached the wall in 73 CE, they found that 960 defenders had taken their own lives rather than be enslaved. The story has become a defining narrative of Jewish resistance.

The Sunrise Experience

One of Israel's most unforgettable experiences is watching the sunrise from the top of Masada. Hikers begin the ascent of the Snake Path in darkness, usually around 4:30 AM, climbing the ancient switchback trail up the eastern face of the mountain. As the sky lightens, the Dead Sea slowly becomes visible — a shimmering expanse 400 meters below, with the mountains of Jordan glowing pink and orange on the far shore. The moment when the sun crests the Moab mountains and floods the plateau with golden light is genuinely awe-inspiring. Israeli soldiers take their oath of service here: 'Masada shall not fall again.'