Pronounced Metzada in Hebrew, Masada is declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2001. It is just a few minutes drive from the Dead Sea and 1,300 ft high. From the station, you either take the cable car which takes you to the site in a few minutes or the more treacherous and physically challenging walk along the snake-like path.
Masada's remarkable story dates back to 73 CE when the Romans seiged the fortress finding all of its 960 Jewish inhabitants dead. Accroding to verbal accounts passed through generations, the inabitants did not commit suicide because it is prohibited in Judaism, rather they took turns to kill each other until only one man remained and thus, committing suicide.
The site is rich with ancient structures..from the Roman-style bathouses, to the synagogue, storehouses, living quarters of the settlers to the barracks of the soldiers. Overlooking this plateau on cliff is the wide stretch of the Dead Sea.
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masada,
metzada
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"Unholy" Sites