History and Archaeology|Ancient Sites of Resistance
Masada is a mountaintop fortress built by Herod and immortalized as the site of Jewish resistance and mass suicide during the Roman siege in 73 CE.
Masada is a desert mesa fortress built by Herod the Great above the Dead Sea. It later became the last stronghold of Jewish zealots during the Great Revolt against Rome. According to Josephus, 960 Jews chose suicide over Roman enslavement after a siege by the Tenth Legion. The site includes Herod’s palace, storerooms, and a synagogue, and is accessed today by hiking or cable car. Excavated by Yigael Yadin, Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a modern Israeli symbol of courage and resistance, though some historians question the myth’s details.
Wikipedia; Virtual Jewish Library; Times of Israel
