Dead Sea. masada

The lowest point of land on the planet, the Judean Desert, is located in the fault of the continents, between Africa, Europe and Asia. One of the saltiest water bodies in the world, the healing properties of which are known throughout the world since ancient times. There is almost no precipitation here. Only 20 mm a year! Herod the Great, king of the Roman province of Judea, created a unique water supply system in the middle of the desert. He turned the top of the mountain plateau into a fortress with fountains and green gardens. Providing this barren land with water was the greatest achievement of engineering. Indeed, a great builder. In the Hebrew language of the Bible, the word “fortress” is Masada.

The last point of the epic epic of the Jewish war against Rome. It offers stunning views of the neighboring country and much of the Jordan Valley. Here is how Josephus described Herod’s engineering solution: “He circled the entire summit in seven stages in a circle with a wall built of white stone, which had twelve cubits of height and eight cubits of width; 37 towers were erected on it, each of which reached fifty cubits of height; from these towers it was possible to pass into dwelling houses attached to the inner side of the wall” (Jewish War, John VII, 8.3). It was in these premises half a century later that the rebels against Rome settled.

Human history has never known a more majestic end to rebellion than the fall of Masada. Imagine: everything is destroyed to the ground, Jerusalem is a heap of ruins, all the cities and fortresses of Judea, Samarin and Galilee are in the hands of the Romans. There is only one fortress in the whole country. She does not give up, the lonely fortress of Masada. There is no hope of winning, and there is no way out of the situation except surrender or flight, so except shame. They will remain faithful to the idea of freedom until the end. They know what awaits them and their wives and children if they surrender to the Romans. And they didn't give up. Their children and wives were not enslaved, and none of the legionaries could abuse their loved ones. None of the rebels died a crucified slave death. How?

Details on my tour of Masada. And, of course, the beach, one of the most unusual in the world. There is a choice of free and paid beach. Climbing the funicular and transportation services are not included in the price of the tour. The cost of transportation depends on the distance and number of passengers.