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מצדה | |
 Aerial view of Masada, from the north | |
  Shown within Israel | |
| Location | Southern District, Israel |
|---|---|
| Region | Judaean Desert |
| Coordinates | 31°18′56″N 35°21′14″E / 31.31556°N 35.35389°E |
| Type | Fortification |
| History | |
| Builder | Alexander Jannaeus (?) Herod the Great |
| Founded | 1st century BCE |
| Events | Siege of Masada |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1963–1965 |
| Archaeologists | Yigael Yadin |
| Criteria | Cultural: iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 1040 |
| Inscription | 2001 (25th Session) |
| Area | 276 ha |
| Buffer zone | 28,965 ha |
Masada (Hebrew: מְצָדָה məṣādā, 'fortress'; Arabic: جبل مسعدة)[1] is an ancient fortification in southern Israel, situated on top of an isolated rock plateau, akin to a mesa. It is located on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea 20 km (12 mi) east of Arad.
Herod the Great built two palaces for himself on the mountain and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE.
According to Josephus, the siege of Masada by Roman troops from 72 to 73 AD, at the end of the First Jewish–Roman War, ended in the mass suicide of the 960 Sicarii rebels who were hiding there. However, the archaeological evidence relevant to a mass suicide event is ambiguous at best[2][3] and rejected entirely by some scholars.[2][4]
Masada is one of Israel's most popular tourist attractions.[5] During 2005 to 2007 and 2009 to 2012, it was the second-most popular, behind the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. The site attracts around 750,000 visitors a year.[6]
- ^ ; the term simply means "fortress" in Modern Hebrew; in Biblical Hebrew מְצָד məṣād "mountain-fortress; stronghold" from a root meaning "to hunt, lie in wait for prey". Gesenius, Hebrew-English Lexicon (H4679).
- ^ a b Sloane, Elizabeth (May 16, 2017). "Did the Jews Kill Themselves at Masada Rather Than Fall Into Roman Hands?". Haaretz Newspaper. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Magness, Jodi (May 27, 2020). "The Remarkable Story of Masada: Guest Post by Jodi Magness". The Bart Ehrman Blog. The Bart Ehrman Foundation. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Zuleika Rodgers, ed. (2007). Making History: Josephus And Historical Method. Brill. p. 397. ISBN 978-90-04-15008-9.
- ^ Most popular during 2008; Timor, Ilai (8 April 2009). "Masada tourists' favorite spot in Israel". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2009-04-08..
- ^ What Israel's nature reserves booking system reveals
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