Fun At Masada And The Dead Sea

**Masada is an ancient fortress occupying a breathtaking, strategic location high on a flat plateau above the Dead Sea,**

Ashdod, Israel Sunday April 5, 2015

Jerusalem remains one of the most influential cities in the world, playing a significant role in three of the world’s major religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

As we had been here before and seen all the classic religious sites like the Garden of Gethsemane, the sacred worship site of the Western Wall, and more, we decided to visit the Dead Sea and Masada.

MASADA

Masada is an ancient, rugged natural fortress, located in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army, in 73 A.D. It was built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire, by Herod the Great, King of Judaea, (reigned 37 – 4 B.C.).

It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Israeli National Park. Its 840-acre complex holds well-preserved ruins e.g. camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument. Together, they constitute the symbolic importance of determination and heroism which continues to this day with many Israeli soldiers sworn in here.

**The Masada Museum has archaeological exhibits and recreations of historical scenes.**

HISTORY OF MASADA

Recognizing the defensive advantages of Masada, King Herod built his complex there in 30 BCE It was first built as as a winter escape and haven from enemies, complete with castle, storerooms, cisterns and a foreboding wall.

After Herod’s death and the annexation of Judea, the Romans built a garrison at Masada. When the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans broke out in 66 A.D., a group of Jewish people known as the Sicarii, led by Menahem, took over the Masada complex and Masada became their last stronghold.

SIEGE OF MASADA

Following Menahem’s murder in 66 A.D. in Jerusalem, Eleazer Ben Yair fled from Jerusalem to Masada to command a group of Judean rebels. When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., the remaining rebels joined Eleazar at Masada to live in Herod’s former palaces.

With Jerusalem in ruins, the Romans turned their attention to taking down Masada, the last community in Judea with 960 rebels, including many women and children. Led by Flavius Silva, a legion of 8,000 Romans built camps surrounding the base, a siege wall, and a ramp on a slope of the Western side of the mountain made of earth and wooden supports.

After several months of siege without success, the Romans built a tower on the ramp to try and take out the fortress’s wall. When it became clear that the Romans were going to take over Masada, on April 15, 73 A.D., on the instructions of Ben Yair, all but two women and five children, who hid in the cisterns and later told their stories, took their own lives rather than live as Roman slaves.

**Masada can be ascended on foot by the winding “snake path” or by a cable car.**

Masada is considered one of the greatest archeological sites in Israel. The remains of the fortress are well-preserved and have been reconstructed in an effort to pay homage to the site and its heroic inhabitants. The most impressive structure remaining is King Herod’s northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below. Near the palace is a large Roman style bath house with a colorful mosaic floor and walls decorated with murals.

Many other buildings at the site – such as the luxurious western palace, the mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), storerooms, watchtowers, and synagogue relate the history of Masada, especially when viewed with artifacts such as storage containers, decorated pottery, scrolls, and coins.

Masada is extremely high, and is dramatic ascent can be made on foot by the winding “snake path” or by a cable car that runs from the tourist center at the foot of the mountain to the top. The tourist center also features a movie about the story of Masada, a model of the site, and an exhibit of the archeological findings.

**The northern beaches are full of mud, whereas the southern beaches feature interesting salt formations.**

DEAD SEA

Dead Sea is one of Israel’s most impressive highlights. Not only is the Dead Sea the lowest point on earth, (at 427 meters below sea level), but it’s waters in which you float, are famous also for their healing properties and the muds are bottled and sold around the world. The Dead Sea is a salt lake between Israel and Jordan in the Middle East.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE DEAD SEA

It's the lowest point on earth. Well, because it's actually a lake rather than a sea. A lake whose surface is 1300 feet below sea level. To put that into context, Death Valley, North America's lowest point, is only 282 feet below sea level.

So how deep is the lake? The lake bed is estimated to be around 2300 feet below sea level.

It's very hard to swim in it. The hypersalinity means that you float on the surface and your body weight feels and moves differently in the water.

The water tastes disgusting. Around 34% of the Dead Sea is salt. And it does not taste good. There are plenty of signs around the water that tells people not to drink it.

The salt stings! Do not shave before you go in! Apply liquid bandage to an open wound so it doesn’t sting you.

It's not actually the saltiest place on earth. Nor even in the top three.

The mud is supposed to be good for your skin. Who knows quite how these things get started but along the banks of the Dead Sea, you'll find beauty resorts and spa treatments aplenty. Both the Dead Sea salts and the less poetically named mud carry anti-inflammatory health properties, apparently.

There's no denying that the mud feels silky smooth, though, like nature's own glossy facial. The ideal "treatment" is to bathe in the saltwater of the Dead Sea, coat yourself in thick mud and then rinse off as the sun sets.

It may or may not work but it definitely is fun!

You can see another country. You can stand on the banks of the Dead Sea in Jordan and gaze across for a view of Israel's West Bank. And vice versa.

Almost everything is dead. The only things alive in the Dead Sea are bacteria (and a few people floating at the edge, trying to make it look as though they're reading a newspaper.)

It was formed by a rift in the earth's crust. Over 3 million years ago, two of the earth's tectonic plates pulled apart to create the Dead Sea: the African plate on one side, the Arabian plate on the other. The resulting rift or graben (the German for ditch) used to connect to what is now known as the Mediterranean Sea. Over time, that connection sealed up, leaving the Dead Sea as an inland salt lake. Today, the Jordan River flows into the lake at the northern end.

It has a secret ingredient. The Dead Sea is the main source for agricultural potassium worldwide