Apparently built by the Hasmonean King Alexander Janaeus (103-76 BCE), Masada is an ancient fortress in the middle of the desert. Today, there are only the ruins of this place that entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. For the Jews, Masada is more than a historical monument, it is also a sacred place and a symbol of resistance.
It was in Masada that the last battle of the Jews against the Romans and King Herod happened. This battle also put an end to the kingdom of Judea. Some historians claim that, when the Romans came to Massada, they found only corpses. Not to be dominated by the Romans, some historians claim that the population in the fortress committed mass suicide. However, this theory is quite questionable, since suicide in Judaism is not allowed.
What is incredible about Masada?
The most incredible thing about visiting Masada is to know that civilizations have lived there for so long. It was built around 103-76 BCE and was inhabited until the second century (CE). Masada stands on top of the reddish mountains, where nothing can be cultivated. The only available water in the region is very salty and comes from the Dead Sea.
Considering that it is a desert region, storing a good quantity of rainwater is also a good question. So how did these people live in that place for so long? In Masada, there are also ruins of swimming pools, where Romans used to take the public baths. Yes! Remains of pools in the top of the mountain, in the middle of the desert. Isn’t it amazing?
Masada, for sure, is an incredible place, where many questions are being dug to find the answers. And some of them still remains with a lot of question marks!
Besides the ruins, that are extremely beautiful I also got enchanted by the desert. I’ve never been in a desert before, and I really got amazed about the silence and the colors of the desert and the views from the Dead Sea.
Visiting Masada
For sure, Masada is a must go place if you’re in Israel. I recommend one day visit at least to visit the National Park. The park opens at different times during the year (April to September: 08h to 17h / October to March: 08h to 16h) and you need to pay the entrance.
I decided just to spend half of the day in Massada and I really regret. I love hiking, so I miss the opportunity to hike the famous Snake Path in the Eastern Entrance of the park. If you’re a hiking lover like me, there are two famous hiking paths, the Snake Path that I mentioned and also the Siege Ramp Path which is located in the Western Entrance of the park. This second option not only takes you to the ruins of the fortress, but also to the water cisterns. During most of the time, the paths are opened. Only in extreme weather conditions (heat), it can be closed.
Because I didn’t have so much time since I and my friend decided to visit Masada and the Dead Sea on the same day, we just used the cable car to get to the fortress and optimize our time.
The park itself has a great infrastructure for tourists. You can find restaurants, toilets, water, and even stores with souvenirs. They also have videos and explanations about the history of Massada with a lot of details. So, if you really want to dig deep into it, yes, you have all you needed!
(Masada, Israel, 2017)
