Remember the Alamo
Trip Start
May 07, 2005
1
64
117
Trip End
Ongoing
Masada,
Israel
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Remember the Alamo!
"Masada shall not fall again" is the battle cry of the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Their tale reminded us of the Alamo in Texas - only much more dramatic.
The fortress of Masada is located on a mountaintop overlooking the Dead Sea surrounded by desert. It makes a fantastic hike if you are so inclined and can start before the sun comes up. We started our day with the good intentions but by the time we arrived around 11AM it was already too hot for a hike and we opted for the cable car.
Masada is famous for harboring a group of 967 Jewish rebels from the Romans. The group held off 15,000 Roman legions for a 5 month seige. What is amazing is how they were able to survive in the desert for so long. There were enough supplies to keep a small army fed for years. It turns out the fortress had leftover food dating from 700 years earler! Masada served as Herod's winter palace. Herod installed two palaces, baths, villas, a swimming pool, storerooms, an elaborate aqueduct system. The aqueduct was pure genius. There are channels carved around the mountain that allow rain water to collect around the base. Donkeys were used to bring the collected water up the mountain which was stored in large cisterns carved out of rock.
To defeat the rebels the Romans eventually built a ramp up the side of the mountain using Jewish slaves (to keep the workers from being shot at). When the defenders realized the Romans would triumph the Jewish leaders decided it would be better to die than become slaves. Jewish law forbids suicide so 10 men were picked to kill everyone. Once that was accomplished one man was selected to kill the other 9 and then to fall on his own sword. When the Romans flowed into the compound triumphant they were more than a little astonished to find everyone dead. A few woman and children hid from the slaughter and were able to recount the story for a Roman general called Flavius. Flavius made the tale famous. Masada has become a symbol for Israeli patriotism and the defense of modern Israel.
