Masada

Masada is ancient legendary fortress in Israel located not far from the Dead Sea. Is in the list of objects of the World heritage. This popular place for excursions and rest on the Dead Sea, to which only about 20 kilometers.

As soon as don’t write an unknown word of «Masad» from unfamiliar language – Mossad, Mossad, Mossad … And the service of foreign intelligence of Israel is called by Mossad, Mossad, Mossad, масад. It is correctly written and said — Masada, with an accent on the second «and». These names are conformable not incidentally. The basis of the name of prospecting department was formed by a fortress name.

Masad’s fortress in Israel was constructed in the 25th year B.C. by the tsar Herod Veliky who has left about himself memory as the cruel villain who, being afraid to lose a throne, has ordered to kill all babies of Bethlehem to get rid of newborn Jesus Christ.

However he has left in the history a mark and as the tsar-builder. He has broadened the Temple mountain, reconstructed the Second Temple, in the suburb of Jerusalem has constructed the Amphitheater where gladiatorial fights and jumps were carried out. In honor of the died brother he has built the mausoleum with a tower. He has reconstructed Samaria, has built Caesar’s port, the temple on the island Rhodes, Herodion and Esevon has based (now it is the territory of Jordan).

Constructed at top of the unapproachable rock in the waterless and deserted desert district of Israel, Masad’s fortress served several purposes. It was a shelter for Herod and his family at the time of never-ending wars, gold and weapon stocks was stored in her.

Up to now fortifications of four-meter thickness nearly one and a half kilometers long with numerous defensive towers, the palace of the tsar Herod, a synagogue have reached.

In Masada the system of collecting rain water in huge tanks for storage has been well organized. Stocks of food and drinking water have helped defenders of fortress to hold the fort within three years.

History of fortress Masada In the seventieth year of our era Romans, suppressing revolt, have taken and have destroyed Jerusalem, but for a clear victory they needed to capture Masada in whom the remains of risen have taken refuge.

It seemed that the fortress surrounded with steep rocks is unapproachable. But Masada’s defenders whom there were about one thousand people together with women and children were opposed by skilled and numerous Roman army.

Romans have besieged fortress, have set up around it several military camps and began to build a huge embankment to a fortification for advance of infantry, transportation of throwing tools and a ram. The fortress fate Masada has been decided. The help had no place to wait, and appearance of Romans and destruction of walls a ram was only business of the near future.

Without wishing slavery and humiliation for itself, the wives and children, Masada’s defenders have burned all property that to Romans wasn’t what to profit. They left water and food that legionaries saw that they had no lack of provisions, but they have preferred to die free. Then ten soldiers chosen on a lot have interrupted all who were in Masada – the companions, women and children. Then these ten having cast lots, have chosen one who has killed them and has committed suicide.

Romans, having entered Masada, instead of the expected production have seen only heaps of bodies of not obeyed heroes.

Up to now in the book «Judaic War» this history was informed by Iosif Flavy. He was guided by the story of two women and five children who have hidden in a cave and told to Romans about an event.

Truthfulness of the narration is supported with archeological finds – plates with the names used in a deadly lot. And ruins of camps of Romans around Masada have remained up to now.

Masada today — the short guide If you travel independently, it is possible to leave the car on the well-planned asphalted parking where usually there are buses. But that the car didn’t heat up on the sun, it is better to turn after the parking on the left, to pass the barrier and the guest house called in honor of fortress. There is a two-storeyed parking from which it is possible to rise on the elevator to the spacious room in which center the fortress model is installed, under glass there are archeological finds, and on walls scenes from life of local settlers of times of Herod are represented.

Directly from this room it is possible to go down on the elevator in a cinema hall and to watch the historical movie or to come directly to the platform for landing in a funicular cabin. The cabin is quite spacious, about 40 people can enter it. For airing in forward and back part of a cabin glass therefore this best place for photography of the removed station of the funicular, nearby ruins of the Roman military camps and a panorama of the Dead Sea is usually lifted.

Today it is possible to climb in Masad’s fortress in Israel a ropeway (cost about 20 dollars), «a snake track» from the sea or the earth shaft constructed by Romans from the West.

Approximately under a ropeway the mountain track which persons interested to get to Massada on foot climb winds. It is necessary to tell that it is quite difficult rise, and in summertime unambiguously to keep forces better and to admire a view from the funicular.

Having gone out of the funicular and having passed on the bridge strengthened by the right side directly on the steep rock you will reach to a main entrance.

Don’t pass the small room at the left. Here it is possible to buy souvenirs, water, a headdress, and the most important can be received the audioguide here. He will spend you along routes on which there are special signs and will issue full information on each room, his mission and on archeological finds.

Thus independent excursion will turn out than not worse than as a part of group.

Many rooms served as housing, others represent storages. In many of them on walls drawings and a mosaic have remained. The black line on between stones from which walls are put, symbolically divides eras. Below her there is a laying executed at Massada’s construction, and above — has been completed presently to restore the room.

Collecting water was special vital care of ancient masadovets. On the mountain you will see many wells and storages for water of the different sizes. Don’t pass the biggest storage of water. It is possible to get to him having gone down below that bridge on which you went from the funicular to a main entrance. In one quite spacious room it is visible that gender in rooms has been assigned at the level of near half a meter from the earth. This space was filled with water too and thus always a cool floor cooled the room.

From West side of fortress you will find that earth shaft on which Romans have rushed into Masada. Today this route is used only by sodata of army of Israel. On two photos it is removed маршбросок the soldier with full equipment, the weapon and a stretcher with «wounded» fighters.

At the foot of the mountain grandiose concerts and festivals with participation of global stars are sometimes held. So, from June 12 to June 17, 2014 there took place the festival of opera art.

Distances to Masada The settlement, next to Masada, is the popular with tourists, located on the bank of the Dead Sea hotel complex Eyn-Bokek. To him 17 kilometers. Slightly to the south there is one more tourist center to Neva Zoar.

From Arad to Masada 50 kilometers. From Jerusalem to Eyn-Bokek of 111 kilometers. From Eilat to Eyn Bokek of 230 kilometers. From Eyn Bokek to the reserve Eyn Gedi 33 kilometers. Eilat — Massada — about 250 km.

Masada on the map of Israel