Massada Palace

Archaeology Tour Guide

The man in the brown shirt and ball cap is one of our staff archaeologist who guided us on all the "Tell Tours" around Israel. 

We were fortunate to have him as our guide because he gave us the real information. We were often close to tourist guides who put out some of the worst miss-information you could imagine.

We are viewing the palace on the second level at Massada. There was some restoration/conservation work going on at the time.

Herod's Palace Ruins

This is another view of the huge and lavish palace of King Herod the Great. 

He never did any building in a small way but this one was for really showing off to the Romans in Caesarea.

The columns in the distance are still part of the palace.

Massada Under Siege

Roman Army Camp at Massada

Looking down from the top of Massada you can still see where the Roman Army camped for three years while trying to take the last hold out of the Jews. There were three of these camps and you can just imagine the thoughts in the defenders minds as they looked down at that scene.

On the other side consider the Romans baking in that Summer heat down on the floor of that camp. For three years they dealt with hot wilderness conditions trying to take a fortress that seemed impossible. But nothing was impossible for that army and take it they did.

Herod Built A Palace

At Ceasrea we toured the ruins of King Herod's palace there. 

He had them all over Israel. This one was fancy with almost modern plumbing - running water - baths - toilet that flushed down a sewer line and into the sea.

Did Jesus Walk Here?

What you see in this picture is an excavated street in ancient Jerusalem just below the south wall of the temple mount. It was still being excavated when I took this picture.

When Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD it was covered over with dirt so the actual streets that Jesus walked on are underground. 

This very narrow street between two rows of homes and led up to three great doors into the Temple. This street and the Western Wall may be the only streets where the public can see where Jesus actually walked.

Roman Theater in Caesarea

This Roman theater in Caesarea was built by King Herod the Great before Jesus was born and it is still in use. It was awesome to sit there and think of all the people who have sat in those stone seats for the past two thousand years. The day we were there a rock band was scheduled to preform there that night.