Masada

Masada. The siege ramp built by the Romans is still visible at right.

Masada refers to a fortress on a rock plateau in Israel built by Herod. Jewish Zealots took it, and held it for more than two years. Once the Romans captured it, the Zealots killed each other rather than become prisoners to the Romans. The Zealots did not, however, commit suicide, as it is prohibited by the traditional Jewish religion.

As described by a virtual library:[1]

Masada today is one of the Jewish people's greatest symbols. Israeli soldiers take an oath there: "Masada shall not fall again." Next to Jerusalem, it is the most popular destination of Jewish tourists visiting Israel.

## See also[edit]

* List of World Heritage Sites in Europe and North America

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/masada.html