We woke to another beautiful day in Israel, overlooking the Dead Sea.
Our first stop today is Masada, a fortress on top of a mountain used by King Herod. From a distance we could see Masada, majestically against the wispy clouds.
As we approached Masada, the plateau and some structures were noticeable.
We took a cable car to the top.
Herod who had many enemies, built a palace on the mountain and fortified it between 37 and 31 BCE.
According to Josephus, the siege of Masada led by Roman troops from 73 to 74 CE, at the end of the First Jewish–Roman War, ended in the mass suicide of the 960 rebels who were hiding there. There is no archeological evidence that this occurred so they are still seeking confirmation.
There are still frescos that have survived 2000 years. These are in the guard rooms.
The palace was 1300 feet above the Dead Sea and 100 feet below sea level.
We touched on only a small portion of Masada but it was an amazing place to visit.
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