- Masada is a mountain top Fortress near the Dead Sea in Israel. It was the site of Herod’s Fortress-Palace (built 37-31 BCE).
- It is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Roman Sites
- Giant Earthwork Ramp
- In the Siege of Masada 72-73 CE the Romans constructed a giant Earthwork Ramp along which they launched battering rams that finally ended the siege.
- The ramp is still in place.
The First Jewish-Roman War (66-70 CE)
- 66 CE The Roman Garrison at Masada was overwhelmed and the Fortress occupied by the Sicarii (Dagger Men) who were the instigators of the First Jewish-Roman War along with the Zealots.
- Jerusalem, a well fortified city, then became the centre of resistance to Roman Rule.
- 67 CE The Romans were obliged to send four Legions to Judaea who proceeded to overwhelm the Revolt.
The Siege of Jerusalem 70 CE
- The four Roman Legions concentrated on the final centre of resistance using siege machines to break the Walls. After Jerusalem fell, the Romans destroyed the Second Temple of Jerusalem, and its contents were taken to Rome. A few pockets of resistance remained, such as Masada.
The Siege of Masada 72 CE
- 72 CE Lucius Flavius Silva was sent to be the new Prefect of Judaea. He ordered the Legio X Fretensis to besiege Masada and build a surrounding Wall and Ramp, which can still be seen today.
- 73 CE 16 April The Battering Rams finally breached the Walls of Masada, only to find the 960 defending Sicarii had all committed mass suicide, according to Josephus in ‘The Jewish War’.
Masada, Israel