Massada

One of the most awesome places to go in Israel is Massada. King Herod the Great was a man driven by the idea that every one was out to kill him so he built fortresses all over Israel. Massada was the most amazing of the lot. It was perched high up on this mountain with a twisting narrow trail that lead up to the top. He had three levels for his living spaces.

In 70 AD with the fall of Jerusalem the Jews made this their last stand against the Roman army and held them off for three years. Using new Jewish slaves, captured at Jerusalem, the Romans built a ramp up the side and hauled siege engines up to shatter the wall. Rather than be captured the Jews killed their families and them selves.
Here I am in 1999 just before we went up Massada.