Desert Fortress - a photo on Flickriver

Desert Fortress

            Panoramic view of the sediments of Ancient Dead Sea and the shrinking Dead Sea.

Masada is on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. The natural approaches to the cliff top are very difficult. King Herod built this site (around 37 to 31 BC) as his holiday resort. It included large cisterns ingeniously filled with rainwater.

After Herod’s death, the Jews revolted against the Romans but the Romans captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple (70 AD). Using Masada as their base, a group of Jewish rebels raided and harassed the Romans for two years. In 73 AD, the Romans camped at the base of Masada. They spent a year building a massive assault ramp using stones and beaten earth against the western approaches of the fortress. The fortress wall was finally breached but the 960 Jewish rebels chose suicide over capture.

The symbolism of Masada still looms large in Israel.  Israelis have vowed not to let Masada fall again.  Soldiers come to the flattened hilltop fortress at the start of their military training to swear a pledge of allegiance.  Boys celebrate coming-of-age rituals there.  Many come to pray. Today Masada is the second most-visited site in Israel after Jerusalem. 

Since 2001, Masada has been counted as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.

Masada, Israel (Thursday 25 November 2010)

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Taken in: Israel / Northern / Massada (show map)

Taken on: November 25, 2010

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Massada

Masada

Dead Sea

King Herod

L Plater

Canon 5d Mk II

Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM

Photoshop CS5

panorama

panoramic

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Sets appears in: • 10,000+ Hits • 1,000+ Hits more » • Israel ישראל • Panoramic Shots « less

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