Israel - Masada

Masada is the name for a site of ancient palaces and fortifications in the South District of Israel on top of an isolated rock plateau, or horst, on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea.

When it was constructed under the rule of King Herod, Masada turned from just a plateau with temples into a luxurious mountain resort with steam baths, water cisterns, guard towers, weapons and food warehouses for possible refuge.
During the excavations, surrounding the 20-acre plateau, two large palaces, administrative buildings, storehouses and a Roman bathhouse were dicovered. The largest building was a western palace that served as Herod's principal residence. The northern side contained Herod's private three-tiered palace/villa, which had been built directly on the edge of the cliff. Also uncovered at Masada were two multicolored mosaics -- the earliest of their kind yet discovered in the Holy Land.
Great cisterns were also discovered. They had been cut from the side of the rock and were supplied with water by an intricate system of aqueducts. The Zealots themselves had constructed several buildings, a synagogue, a religion school room and two ritual baths.

Although a legend, it is believed that in its last years of usage in the year 73 A.D., Masada was defended by Jews in the Roman occupied Israel. They defended the untakeable fortress while the Romans, craving total victory, built a ramp to enable them to take control. Even before the morning the Romans planned to storm Masada, the Jews saw themselves faced with two choices - to be or not to be free. They decided that rather then becoming slaves at the hands of the Romans, they would die as free men and women. During the night, all but a small handful of women and children committed the ultimate act of resistance to slavery -- suicide.