Masada - how the impregnable fortress of King Herod fell. Masada Fortress and the Dead Sea - witnesses of Israel's dark times Israeli Masada Fortress

The book of the ancient historian Josephus Flavius “The Jewish War” describes an event that occurred on the morning of the 15th Nisan (the month of the biblical year corresponding to the second half of March - early April according to the Gregorian calendar) 73 AD. e. Then eight thousand Roman soldiers broke into the fortress of Masada, which had been besieged for more than three years. What they saw made them “frozen in silence; in front of them lay 960 corpses of men and women - the defenders of the fortress, who preferred voluntary death to painful and shameful slavery.

Saving rain

Mentions of the fortress are also found in the works of other ancient chroniclers. According to written sources, the first ruler who built a fortified point in this place was the king and high priest (the priest who led the service in the main temple) Jonathan the Hasmonean - this happened in the 2nd or 1st century BC. e. The structure on a high (450 meters) rock was called Masada (translated from Hebrew as fortress).

In 37 BC. e. In Masada, there was King Herod I, appointed by the decision of the Roman Senate (the same one who, a little later, ordered the extermination of all the babies in Bethlehem in order to get rid of Jesus, who could take his fortune away from him). At that time, the king and high priest Mattathias Antigonus II ruled in Jerusalem, who did not want to give the throne to Herod. As a result, the Roman protege took refuge in Masada with his family, as well as his retinue and guards, consisting of 800 people.

Herod somehow managed to bypass the barriers and sail to Rome by ship for help. But it was not easy for the besieged - due to the blockade, the fortress ran out of water. Herod's supporters were already thinking about escaping, but on the appointed night, heavy rain suddenly began to fall, filling the reservoirs built in Masada.

Herod, returning with reinforcements, defeated the troops of Mattathias Antigonus II and took his place. But just in case, he turned Masada into an impregnable refuge for himself and his supporters. The fortress was surrounded by a high wall with 37 towers; additional fortifications and food warehouses were erected here in case of a long siege. 12 reservoirs were carved into the rock to collect rainwater. In addition, the fortress had a large public bathhouse, a synagogue, comfortable premises for the ruler, weapons warehouses, and numerous auxiliary buildings. Here Herod I kept gold.

From above, Masada looked like a diamond measuring 600 by 300 meters. The rock had steep slopes and the only connection with the outside world - a narrow snake path rising from the side Dead Sea. Enemy warriors would have been forced to walk along it in single file, so they would not pose much of a danger.

They didn't want to accept the title

After the death of Herod I (4 BC), a Roman garrison was stationed in Masada, which remained here until 66 AD. e. - when a massive uprising against the Romans began, called the First Jewish War.

The reason for the uprising was the oppression of Gessius Florus, the procurator (ruler appointed by Rome) of Judea, who ordered the seizure of silver from the temple treasuries of the Jews. In response, the Zealots (zealous supporters of the Jewish religion) raised the people to fight. The uprising spread throughout the country and even spread to Jewish communities in Syria and Egypt. Street battles took place in the cities, in which thousands of people died.

Emperor Nero sent a huge 60,000-strong army under the command of the experienced commander Vespasian to suppress the uprising in a small province. Roman soldiers took several small Jewish towns, killing 40 thousand local residents. The surviving Zealot troops took refuge in Jerusalem.

By that time, a revolution had occurred in Rome: in 68 AD. e. Nero was overthrown, and after a short reign of several emperors, the throne passed to Vespasian.

His son Titus took command of the siege of Jerusalem. It is known that already in the first months of the battle for the city, more than 115 thousand Jews were killed. The capture of Jerusalem was accompanied by bloody massacres and destruction. Titus celebrated his triumph in Rome, where several captured leaders of the uprising were brought for execution.

During the war, according to ancient historians, more than 600 thousand Jews died (out of a total of 2 million). Those who survived were sold into slavery. The victory was so hard for the Romans and was so bloody that neither Vespasian nor Titus wanted to accept the title “Victor of the Jews.”

Three years to build the embankment

Several hundred rebels with their wives and children entered the Masada fortress. They managed to kill the Roman garrison and, having taken possession of weapons that had been stored here since the time of Herod I, for a long time resisted the soldiers of the 10th legion led by Flavius Silva.

The siege lasted for three years! Less than one thousand Jews, including women and children, successfully resisted the eight thousand Roman army. Flavius Silva chose a place on the western side of the fortress, where the height of the sheer cliff was the smallest and amounted to 100 meters. Here, Jewish slaves, by order of the Romans, carried earth and tree trunks to create a siege rampart. Its remains have survived to this day. In three years, nine thousand slaves raised the artificial embankment to the required height. Then a 25-meter siege tower with a powerful ram was built on it to make a hole in the fortress wall.

The defenders of Masada tried to thwart the Romans' plan. The embankment builders were constantly fired upon with bows and stones thrown at them. Because of this, slaves were forced to work with only one hand and hold the shield in the other.

When the Roman soldiers began to ram the wall of the fortress, the Jews erected another one right behind it - from wooden logs, the space between which was filled with earth. The material for its construction was dismantled buildings. The good thing about the new wall was that the ram intended for the stone got stuck in more soft material and could not destroy it. But the Romans, through the broken stone wall, began to throw torches and lighted arrows at the wooden frame. The logs began to burn, and the soil filling began to crumble. Masada's defense has reached its final stage.

Remained free

On the night before the decisive assault of the Romans, the leader of the Jews, Elazar Ben-Yair, gathered everyone who remained in the fortress and convinced them not to become victims and slaves of the victors, but to die free people. The historian Josephus in his book reproduced this speech from the words of two women and five children who hid in one of the reservoirs and were then captured by the Romans.

The warriors agreed with their commander. First, each of them cut the throats of his wife and children with his own hands. Then lots were cast and ten executors of the last will were chosen. They killed the remaining defenders of the fortress in the same way, cutting their throats. Then they burned everything of any value, with the exception of food, so that the Romans would not think that hunger had pushed the Jews to commit suicide. After this, one of the ten, also chosen by lot, killed the rest and threw himself on the sword.

Let us note that Judaism considers suicide as a grave sin - and the chosen tactics made it possible to reduce the number of those who committed suicide to just one person.

The Roman soldiers were amazed by the fortitude of the fortress’s defenders. And for many years, Masada has been a symbol of national courage and the desire for freedom.

Symbol of national heroism

After these events, a Roman garrison was again stationed in Masada. And when in the 5th century AD. e. The Roman Empire fell, the fortress fell into disrepair. About a century later, Byzantine Christian monks settled here, setting up their cells inside and next to the destroyed buildings. But for some unknown reasons, the clergy later left Masada - and the remains of the uninhabited fortress were simply lost.

It was not until 1838 that two American explorers, Edward Robinson and Eli Smith, discovered this historical site on the mountain, which the Arabs called A-saba, and compared it with the descriptions given in the book of Josephus. It became clear that in front of them was indeed Masada, the former impregnable fortress of the biblical king Herod.

Its study for the time being proceeded at a very leisurely pace. In 1852, a plan for the fortress was drawn up, and in 1905, water supply systems were discovered and slightly cleared.

Only much later than the formation of the State of Israel, in 1963-1964, large-scale archaeological work was carried out in the fortress. During the excavations, almost all buildings were cleared and restored. And the result of the work of archaeologists was the publication of an eight-volume work devoted to writings, household items and other finds on the territory of Masada. By the way, near one of the palaces, on an area that could have served as a gathering place, 11 clay shards were discovered, each of which had only one name inscribed - they were most likely used for the deadly drawing of lots for warriors. In 1966, Masada was given the status of National archaeological park, and in 1971, on the eastern slope of the mountain, a cable car. Now this is one of the most popular tourist centers Israel. Former fortress King Herod is a symbol of the national heroism of the Jewish people: here many recruits take the oath and take an oath: Masada will not fall again!

Massada Israel- a lonely mountain fortress in the very heart of the Holy Land, where an amazing and chilling story took place 2 thousand years ago. Here a small handful of Jewish rebels challenged the strong army of that time, the army of Rome.

HISTORY OF MASSADA FORTRESS

And so, everything in order, it was 66 AD, Judea was captured by the Romans, the area was engulfed in rebellion, the oppressive Roman authorities were attempting to prevent the uprising of the Jews, and they were doing it with incredible cruelty. A small handful of devout Jews, called Zealots, managed to take refuge in the Judean Desert.

They found refuge in a building built in the 1st century BC. King Herod of the mountain fortress. For Herod, the fortress served as a reliable refuge in the event of an uprising or invasion by enemy troops. It was an unprecedented example of engineering art. The very geography of Massada made it impregnable. Mount Massada rises 450 meters above the level of the Dead Sea, and its top is a flat diamond-shaped area measuring 650 m by 300 m. The fortress was well supplied with provisions and had good defensive structures, so the zealots could hold out here for a very long time.

Moreover, it was possible to get up only along a narrow snake path, along which, in their opinion, the Roman army certainly would not pass.

After the fall of Jerusalem in 70, its last defenders fled to Massada, among them was Elazar ben Yair, who later led the rebels. As Massada's population grows, it attracts the attention of Rome's new general, the cunning Flavius Silva. This was a great chance for him to prove himself.

For 73 years, 8 thousand Roman soldiers stood around the fortress. It soon became clear that the Romans were building more than just camps at the foot of Massada. From wood and earth they built a huge embankment leading directly to the walls of Masada. And when the height of the embankment reached 70 meters, the Romans raised a huge 30-meter siege tower with folding bridges along it and made a hole in the fortress wall. They were able to easily set fire to the inner wall built by the rebels.

And then Elazar ben Yair, recognizing that everything was lost, made a fiery speech to the rebels, calling on them to die as free people - preferring death to shameful and painful slavery.

They could have surrendered, but they chose to remain unconquered to the end, choosing freedom at any cost. Each of the men killed their wives and children, and then they chose by lot ten men who were to slaughter the rest. Then these ten cast lots to choose the one who was to kill nine of his comrades, and then himself. So they killed all 960 people in the firm belief that they did not leave a single living soul that the Romans could abuse.

The next day, the Romans who climbed Massada found only piles of dead bodies, but did not rejoice at the sight of their dead enemies, but only froze in mute silence, amazed by the greatness of their spirit and indestructible contempt for death.

The rumor about the action of the defenders of Massada spread far beyond the fortress and over time this event became one of the cult moments in Jewish history. Massada became a symbol of Jewish heroism.

In the history of the defenders of the Masada fortress, the human mind finds something attractive and frightening at the same time. This legend gave rise to contradictory attitudes towards it. Some believe that even after 2 thousand years, this story about preferring death to captivity continues to fascinate. Others believe that the shocking act of Elazar and the Zealots is nothing more than a manifestation of religious extremism.

But be that as it may, we can confidently say that the history of the Massada fortress cannot leave anyone indifferent. It is not surprising that Massada is one of the most visited places in the state of Israel.

Most The best way For sightseeing in Israel, you can rent a car. About how to rent a car in Israel, about the rules traffic and parking can be read

Opening hours of Massada Park and funicular:

From April to September: 8.00 – 17.00 From October to March: 8.00 – 16.00
Saturday and holidays The park is open as usual. On Fridays and on the eves of holidays it closes to the public an hour earlier, before the Day of Judgment - at 12.00. The park is closed on Doomsday.

Israel today is deservedly considered one of the amazing places in the world. And the point is not only that miracles described in the Bible took place on this land, but that now the most significant shrines for Christians are located here.

Sights of Israel

It's no surprise that the Promised Land is one of the most popular and sought after tourist destinations. Travelers from all countries come to Israel to come into contact with unique shrines and plunge into ancient history and relax on the shores of the Red or Dead Sea.

The sights of this land are unique. In no other place is it possible to see such a number of sacred relics and religious buildings. Most are concentrated in Jerusalem: this includes the Dome of the Rock Mosque, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and, of course, the Western Wall - one of the main attractions of the Promised Land. It is a sacred place located on the western slope of the Temple Mount - part of the ancient wall built around the temple built by King Solomon. It received the name “Wailing Wall” in the sixteenth century. Today, Jews and tourists pray here or atone for their sins, leaving notes addressed to the Almighty in the cracks.
Among the attractions of Israel, one cannot fail to mention those that are located in Nazareth, sacred to all Christians - the city in which Christ spent his childhood and youth, and where the miracle of the Good News took place. Above the grotto of the same name rises a beautiful catholic church in honor of the Annunciation.

It is a mistake to think that the land of Israel contains only places of worship and holy places. In this amazing country There are also many interesting museums to visit. The Promised Land is considered not only the birthplace of three religions, but also the cradle of civilizations. Therefore, the historical value of this area is difficult to overestimate. Among the places that are definitely included in sightseeing tours for tourists, museums such as fine arts, Israel, Memorial Museum Holocaust, biblical countries and others.

The colorful colors of city streets, multinational hubbub and artifacts of all major world religions are another reason that in a hot, but surprisingly interesting Israel thousands of travelers are drawn in. And the proximity of such natural monuments as the Judean Desert, seaside resorts etc., only increases the army of tourists.

Israel, from being a tiny piece of land surrounded by seas, deserts, forests and mountains, has become today a modern country, painstakingly built and built by many generations of Jews. And if you list everything iconic places of this state, then one of them is definitely worth a visit. The top ten most popular attractions among tourists include the Masada fortress in Israel. Every traveler books excursions here.

How to get there

Very often this word causes some confusion among Russians. The reason is that many people associate the Masada fortress with the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. However, there is no connection between them. The word "masada" is of Greek origin and means "fortress" in Hebrew. This ancient legendary structure is listed World Heritage. It is located near the shore of the Dead Sea - only twenty kilometers. The ancient fortress of Masada is located near the city of Arad, next to the Ein Gedi highway.

Story

It was built in the twenty-fifth year BC by Herod I the Great, whom history knows as a cruel villain who, out of fear of losing his throne, ordered the killing of all the babies in Bethlehem. So he tried to get rid of his main enemy - the newborn Christ. However, Herod I the Great left another mark on history - as a king-builder. It was he who expanded and reconstructed the Second Temple, and built an Amphitheater in the suburbs of Jerusalem, in which horse races and gladiator fights were subsequently organized.

Construction goals

In honor of his deceased brother, King Herod also erected a mausoleum with a tower. He is also credited with the reconstruction of Samaria and the port of Caesar, the amazing temple located on the island of Rhodes, as well as the founding of Herodion and Heshbon in today's territory of Jordan.

Standing on top of an inaccessible cliff, in a deserted desert area, the Masada fortress had several tasks. Firstly, it was supposed to become a refuge where King Herod and his family could hide during wars, and secondly, gold and weapons were stored here.

Description

Masada Fortress rises above Dead Sea at 450 meters. It stands on the site of a building from the Hasmonean period, which, judging by the documents, dates back to the thirties before our chronology. And today, tourists are shown how skillfully the water supply system and baths were built, reminiscent of Roman baths. The fortress of Masada was used mainly to store weapons and food here, but the king's entourage knew that his inexhaustible reserves of gold were hidden here.

Inaccessibility

The structure is surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs, and only from the sea did a narrow “snake” path lead up to it, which still exists today. On the western side, the ancient fortress of Masada is connected to the outside world along a path that was built on an embankment laid by the Romans. The journey length is approximately thirty minutes.

The Masada fortress is built on top of a cliff, which is crowned by an almost flat plateau with dimensions of approximately 300 x 600 meters. It was on this trapezoidal platform that there was a synagogue, royal palace, weapons depots, auxiliary buildings, pits for collecting and subsequent storage of rainwater. The perimeter of the plateau is surrounded by a powerful fortress wall. Its total length is 1400 meters. The height of the fortress wall was about four meters. There are 37 towers on it.

Archaeological finds

And today, in the fortress, tourists can see the palace in which King Herod and his family hid during endless wars, the synagogue in which he prayed, and fragments of amazing mosaics. The water tanks carved into the rock, as well as hot and cold baths, amaze with their engineering. But the most striking discovery, judging by the opinions of archaeologists and historians, is the synagogue. It has long been believed that the Jews had no need for it, since they had the Temple. However, this find surprised experts. The fact is that the Masada fortress was reconstructed at a time when the Second still existed, which was restored by Herod himself. Nevertheless, a synagogue existed there. It must be said that a similar find was discovered among the ruins of the ancient fortress of Gamla. This is precisely what proved that among the ancient Jews the question of the existence of the synagogue was not connected with the Temple.

Chronicle

In the seventieth year of our chronology, the Romans, having suppressed the uprising, were able to capture and destroy Jerusalem. However, to finally celebrate the victory, they still had to capture the Masada fortress, in which the few remaining rebels managed to take refuge. It would seem that the latter are no longer in danger. After all, the Masada fortress, which was surrounded sheer cliffs and a high fortress wall, until now considered impregnable. But against the rebels, who numbered about a thousand people, including children and women, stood an experienced and, most importantly, numerous army of the Romans. Therefore, the besiegers managed to surround the fortress. Having set up numerous military camps around it, the Romans began to build a huge embankment, which was supposed to become the road to the fortress wall.

So, the Romans besieged the fortress, set up several military camps around it and began to build a giant embankment to the fortress wall. It was intended not only for the advancement of infantry, but also for transporting throwing weapons, as well as a ram. The fate of the fortress was predetermined. The rebels had nowhere to wait for help. The appearance of the Roman army inside the fortress and the destruction of its walls by ramming was expected in the very next few hours. But proud Jews, not wanting humiliation and slavery, including for their children, took the most desperate step. The defenders of the fortress, deciding not to leave any trophies for the Romans, burned all the property in the fortress. They left only food and water, thereby showing the legionnaires that they had no shortage of provisions, nevertheless they made the choice towards death, preferring to die free.

The most tragic page of history

After this, ten soldiers chosen as a result killed all those who were hiding in the fortress at that time, both their close comrades and women and children, including their own. Then they chose one, who, after killing the other nine, committed suicide. He brought this tragic page in the chronicle of the famous ancient fortress to this day by writing about it in a book called “The Jewish War.” He, relying on the stories of two women and several children who managed to hide in the cave and subsequently talk about what happened, truthfully conveyed everything said by the witnesses. The authenticity of his story was confirmed and archaeological finds- several tablets on which were written the names of those who participated in this deadly lot. In addition, around the fortress, the ruins of camps set up by Roman legionnaires have survived to this day.

Masada today

Today, you can get to this attraction, which is included in almost any excursion tours in Israel, using a cable car built to it. The cost of the trip is about twenty dollars. Daredevils and those who like to overcome obstacles can reach the fortress both along the “snake path” from the Dead Sea and along the earthen rampart built by the Romans during the famous siege. However, most tourists still choose the cable car.

Tourist Information

At the foot of the “snake” path there is parking for cars. There is also an information center where tourists can purchase tickets to enter the fortress, as well as to ascend the funicular. There is also a museum displaying artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations. IN good weather Masada fortress turns into concert hall, where music is played and cultural events are held.

Masada is an ancient fortress that is located nearby Israeli city Arad, y south coast Dead Sea. On the top of one of the rocks of the Judean Desert, rising 450 meters above the Dead Sea, in 25 BC. e. King Herod I the Great built a refuge for himself and his family, significantly strengthening and completing the construction of the Hasmonean period fortress that existed on this site.

Masada is surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs. Only from the sea side does a narrow, so-called “snake path” lead upward. You can still climb up to the fortress along this path. However, now there is another way for tourists - the cable car.

The top of the rock is crowned by an almost flat trapezoidal plateau, the dimensions of which are approximately 600 by 300 meters. The plateau is surrounded by powerful fortress walls total length 1400 meters and about 4 meters thick, in which 37 towers are located. Palaces, a synagogue, armory warehouses, pits for collecting and storing rainwater and other auxiliary buildings were built here and have survived to this day, albeit in ruins. The fortress was also used to store royal gold.

The Masada fortress can be called one of the main symbols of the Jewish people. Despite the fact that the events associated with this bastion took place more than 2 thousand years ago, they continue to excite the hearts of not only history buffs, but also ordinary adventurers.

General information

If you look for the Masada fortress on a map of Israel, you will notice that it is located on the southern coast of the Dead Sea near Arad. What distinguishes it from other similar structures is its rather unusual geographical location– a bastion was erected on top high mountain, which is protected from the outside world by steep cliffs and thick stone walls surrounding the plateau along its entire perimeter.

For Israelis, this place has great historical value, because it was here that significant tragic events took place in the life of the Jewish people, but more on them later. In the meantime, we note that the ruins of the citadel were first found relatively recently - in 1862. True, the start of full-fledged excavations of one of the main attractions of Israel had to wait as long as 100 years.

Now Masada is a real ancient city, included in the UNESCO list. Festivals and concerts are often held at the foot of the mountain, where representatives of world show business perform.

Historical reference

The history of the Masada fortress in Israel is full of fiction, legends and unverified facts. It all started with Herod, who in 25 BC. was forced to seek shelter for himself and his family in the middle of inaccessible mountainous terrain. However, fate decreed that the man who betrayed his comrades not only did not become an exile, but was also appointed king of Judea.

Herod returned to Jerusalem victorious, accompanied by two Roman legions. True, despite this, he was afraid of being killed, so he ordered the construction of a fortress on the mountain, which translated from Hebrew means Masada. The order was carried out, and the citadel itself was equipped and supplied with everything that a large army might need in case of a long siege. But Herod was never able to test the strength of the fortress - he died even before the first opponents attacked the mountain.

Over the long period of its existence, the bastion managed to change several owners, among whom were both Roman conquerors and the Jewish people. All of them were attracted by Masada's strategically advantageous location and the availability of amenities that were completely uncharacteristic of that time.

The last inhabitants of the fortress were the rebels, who, after the fall of Jerusalem, made it a stronghold of their resistance against foreign invaders. The rebels managed to hold the line for 3 years, but the Romans turned out to be more cunning. They began to attack the fortress walls with a catapult mounted on a nearby mountain ridge. When this did not bring the expected result, the legionnaires set fire to one of the walls, and the wind helpfully spread the fire throughout the entire territory.

Realizing that it would be impossible to avoid capture, all 960 defenders of Masada or the Fortress of the Desperados decided to go to their death. To implement this mission, the rebels cast lots, according to which 10 executors of the last will were chosen. They had to stab with swords not only their comrades, but also all the inhabitants of the citadel, including children and women. In the morning, when the Romans climbed the mountain through a hole punched in the wall, they were greeted by silence. Thus ended not only the 7-year struggle of the Jews against Roman tyranny, but also the history of the citadel itself.

Unfortunately, this version never received historical confirmation, because no remains or graves were ever found on the territory of the fortress. However, even this delicate fact did not make Masada less popular. Quite the opposite - this bastion is considered one of the most visited in the world.

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Masada today: what to see?

Mount Masada in Israel is famous not only rich history and a gorgeous panorama, but also numerous attractions. Let's take a look at some of them.

The double scarp or casemate wall surrounding Masada is a majestic structure with a flat top. The length of this ancient building, erected by order of Herod himself, is 1400 m. Inside you can see special walls, which at one time served as armories, casemates and food depots. The latter stored strategic reserves of wine, flour and butter. In addition, there are as many as 7 entrance gates in the wall - some of them are still in use.

Another important attraction of the Masada fortress in Israel is the Western Palace or haArmon haMaaravi, whose area is more than 4 thousand square meters. m. Today, the palace is in a dilapidated state, but among its remains one can still recognize sleeping rooms, a reception hall, royal toilets, workshops and baths lined with mosaics.

The Hanging Palace or haArmon haTzfoni can be called one of the most impressive relics of that time. The luxurious building, which served as the residence of King Herod, is located on a rock, to which a rather narrow and not very convenient path leads. Perhaps it was for this reason that haArmon haTzfoni was considered not just the private apartments of the ruler, but also an important strategic site. You may ask, is there really no other place? In fact, Herod was guided by 3 important factors. Firstly, in this part of the mountain there were stone reservoirs. Secondly, Northern part The fortress was practically not exposed to the sun and was blown by the breeze even on the hottest days. Thirdly, it was quite difficult to approach the castle, so its inhabitants did not have to fear a sudden attack by enemies.

But tourists are attracted not so much by the history of the Northern Palace as by its appearance. Just imagine - this structure consists of 3 tiers, scattered over 3 rocky levels with a total height difference of about 30 m. Moreover, the upper tier, located on the top of the cliff, was occupied by the royal residence itself. It consisted of a bedroom, a state hall, quarters for the palace guards and an open terrace from which one could see not only the lower levels of the palace, but also the surrounding territory. In addition, from here there was an excellent view of the Roman road that connected the legionnaires’ camps with the Tzeelim spring. It still contains ramps and hundreds of rounded stones used for shooting.

Internal steps lead to the middle tier of haArmon haTzfoni, down which you can see the so-called mikveh, a place for sacred ablution. This part of the castle is a round hall surrounded by two rows of marble columns. Unfortunately, now only the foundations remain of them.

As for the last tier, it resembles an ordinary rectangular hall, decorated with ancient frescoes and framed by majestic columns. It was here, in the semi-basement, that scientists discovered bath complex, consisting of a foot bath and two pools - for cool and hot water. The design of this bathhouse is truly impressive. The air was heated by a stove standing behind the wall. Then he was passed under the marble floor of the bathhouse, which was held in place by 2 hundred clay pillars. Unfortunately, almost nothing remains of the floor, but the pedestals of the pillars can still be seen.

Synagogue and chapel

On Mount Masada there is another significant building for Israel - the oldest synagogue, the age of which can only be compared with Gamla, located on Golan Heights. It was here that records were found, with the help of which scientists were able to restore the history of this amazing place. Currently, the synagogue building is used to celebrate bar mitzvahs, the day when Jewish boys reach spiritual adulthood.

As for the chapel, it was built by Byzantine monks back in the 5th century. They say that these worshipers were the last inhabitants of the fortress.

The remains of 11 clay shards, called ostracons, can be found just south of the Hanging Palace - in a small area that served as a meeting place for the rebels. Their main feature is their names, written in the same handwriting. One of these names belongs to Ben-Yair, the man who led the Masada defense force. Because of this, scientists are inclined to believe that these ostracons were used during the drawing of lots by the last executors of the oath.

Stone reservoirs

Perhaps the most amazing attraction of Masada in Israel are the huge rock pools that serve to collect and further conserve rainwater. Thanks to these reserves, the defenders of the fortress were able to hold the defense for several years.

Tourist Information

The Masada fortress in Israel is open every day. Visiting hours vary depending on the time of year:

April – September – from 8 am to 5 pm;
October – March – from 8 am to 4 pm.

On Fridays and pre-holidays the complex closes 60 minutes earlier.

Entrance to the fortress is paid:

Adults – 30 ILS;
Children – 12 ILS.

Discounts apply for pensioners and students.

For those who plan to stay in Israel for some time, you can buy tourist map designed for several visits at once:

Blue (3 visits) – 78 ILS;
Green (6 visits) – 110 ILS;
Orange (unlimited) – 150 ILS.

Cards are valid for 2 weeks from the date of first use. The price is the same for all ages.

As for the funicular, it operates every day except Friday. In summer – from 8.00 to 16.00, in winter – from 8.00 to 15.00. The cable car ticket must be purchased separately:

Adults – 80 ILS;
Children – 40 ILS.

It should also be noted that on Tuesdays and Thursdays there are light shows on the mountain (in summer - at 21.00, in winter - at 20.00). Price – 41 ILS. In addition, at the entrance to the fortress you can book a tour, the cost of which is 45 ILS per person.

On a note! You can find out more information on Masada’s official website - www.parks.org.il/en/.

How to climb the mountain?

If you want to get into National Park Masada in your car, use one of 2 methods.

Method 1. From Jerusalem

Arriving at the entrance to the city on Highway No. 1, drive towards the Dead Sea in accordance with the road signs. To do this, you need to pass the Tzomet haGiva haTzorfatit intersection, follow the highway for a little more than 30 km and go down to the coast. Next, at the Tzomet Beyt haArava intersection, turn south and go straight to the East Gate of Masada.

On a note! If you are heading in the right direction, you will encounter Almog, Ein Gedi, kibbutzim, Mitzpe Shalem and KALIA along the way.

Method 2. From Arad

Tourists arriving in Masada from the northern part of Israel are directed to Beersheba. In this case, you need to get to the Tzomet Lehavim intersection, turn onto highway No. 31 and get to Tzomet Zohar, which goes straight to Dead Sea. Then you need to move north and after about 20 km turn left (there will be a sign).

On a note! If you followed the instructions provided exactly, along the way you will see Bedouin settlements and Tel Arad, an archaeological mound that houses relics from the Talmudic period.

For those who plan to take advantage public transport, the following buses are suitable:

No. 421 - from the Arlozorov terminal in Tel Aviv to the Ein Bokek resort. The journey takes almost 3 hours. Ticket price – 88 ILS;
No. 486, 444 – from the main bus station in Jerusalem to Masada Center. Travel time is 1.2 hours. Ticket price – 37 ILS.

On a note! The bus schedule can be checked on the website of the transport company “Egged” - www.egged.co.il/ru/.

The mountain itself can be climbed either by the ski lift located at the Eastern Entrance, or on foot – along a serpentine path that originates at the western end of Masada and runs through the Siege Rampart. The ascent on foot at a calm pace takes a little over an hour, the descent – 40-45 minutes.

If you are going to the mountain just to watch the light and sound show, use the specially laid highway from Arad. You won't get lost here - there are signs along the entire road.

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Before you head to Mount Masada, take note of these helpful tips:

A walk through the historical park promises to be not only eventful, but also quite tiring, so to avoid inconvenience, take care of comfortable shoes, wear a hat and take water with you;
If it’s too hot outside, reschedule your visit to the fortress to another day - in the open area you can easily burn or get sunstroke. By the way, even in October it is very hot in Israel - about +30°C;
The ideal time for an excursion is early morning (immediately after opening) - during this period there are still very few tourists here;
Do not spare money on the funicular - it offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area;
At the entrance to the fortress, you can order a personal guide or buy a booklet in the language you need;
You need to spend at least 3-4 hours to get to know this attraction.

The Masada Fortress is real amazing place, permeated with a historical atmosphere and immersing tourists in the events of the distant past.

For more detailed historical information about the fortress and what can be seen on the territory of the attraction today, watch the video.

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