Masada (1937-1931 BC) is one of the most impressive archaeological sites located in Israel. This fortress, which rises dramatically to the desert and watching the Dead Sea, is a valuable example of integrating architecture to its context, but also a symbol of Jewish resistance against the Romans. The powerful stature with which dominates the landscape, its architectural quality as a villa of the Roman Empire in Judea and their turbulent, tragic and symbolic history have earned him recognition as UNESCO World Heritage . paranoia
HEROD Herod "the Great" (73 BC - 4 BC) was a cruel king who ruled the Roman provinces of Judea and Galilee and Samaria from 47 to 4 BC To avoid being invaded by the Romans, Herod was provided to be used as a puppet king, always willing and subservient to the interests of the empire. Thus, cities and buildings built in Roman style, named after Caesar as Caesarea Maritima and Sabaste (Greek Sabazios meaning "Augustus").
Hippodrome at Caesarea Maritima, which I hope will be addressed later in this moleskine. Wikipedia photo.
However, when invading empire collaborator, his own people hated him. Knowing that antipathy, the Jews sought to ingratiate himself with rebuilding the great temple of Jerusalem. However, living always think that someday would conspire against him and kill him. This paranoia led him to kill his own wife, three sons, in-law, sons and other family members, and to build impregnable fortresses such as Masada and Herodium, where shelter in case of a rebellion broke out against him. LOCATION
Masada is located south of Jerusalem, in an extraordinarily dry and hot region, especially in the scorching summer, although there is evidence that 2000 years ago the climate was slightly wetter. From there you look superb views towards the Dead Sea, which at the time of the fortress must have been much larger, since irrigation projects in Israel and Jordan they are drying .
The fortress is located on a plateau atop a hill about 440 m high, flanked by vertical cliffs. Currently, we reach the top by cable car.
the fortress of Masada
The fortress was composed of several buildings is mainly grouped in two zones: the north was the palace complex, restrooms and storage, and west stood a group Guest rooms.
Masada Plan: 1. Puerta del Camino of the Snake, 2. Homes of the killers, 3. Byzantine monks' cells, 4. Tanker 5. Homes of the Assassins, 6. Ritual bath (mikveh), 7. South Gate (gate of the tank), 8. Homes of the Assassins, 9. Underground Cistern, 10. South Fortaleza, 11. Cisterna, 12. Mansion, 13. False Columbarium, 14. Byzantine mosaics workshop, 15 and 16. Palaces; 17. Public bath (pool), 18 to 21. Palace West: 18. Service wing, 19a and 19b. Residential area; 20. Cash, 21. Administrative buildings; 22. Tower of tanning; 24. Byzantine Gate West, 24. Columbaria Torres, 25. Synagogue, 26. Byzantine Chapel, 27. Building fitting, 28 to 38. North Palace: 28. Commander's residence, 29. Quarry, 30. Commander's headquarters, 31. Watchtower; 32. Administrative buildings; 33. Door 34a and 34b. Cash, 35. Bathhouse; 36. Of the den, 37 to 39. Private Herod 37. Upper terrace, 38. Intermediate terrace, 39. Lower terrace. Other points of interest: A. Bunker where they found several scrolls, B. Herod's throne room; C. Mosaic of colors, D. Gap in the wall where it entered the Roman army, E. Treasury shekels of silver, F. Place where they found several scrolls, G. Stay where they found three skeletons. Source Wikipedia
The whole was surrounded by a double wall 6 m high, interspersed with turrets. The wall extended 1400 m 3 was interrupted by fortified gates.
3D reconstruction of the fortress. Image courtesy of History Channel. Construction
The walls were built of stone and covered with stucco dolomite. The thickness of the walls had for seismic and climate, to counteract the temperature variations between day and night.
The black line marks the original level of strength before the restoration. The fortress of Masada is equipped with large water tanks, fed by canals and dams that captured the low rainfall in the area.
water catchment system on the strength 
Channels set in the rock. Somehow I did remind the contemporary and not far away if Petra. 
This response site, this guy poured a little water and watch the collection channels and lead to tanks of the fortress. 
The water was then transported by donkey and stored in large tanks like this. In this way it could survive for long inside the fort in case of siege. Pendant Palace
In the far north, separated from the rest of the fortress by a wall, was the residence of Herod, a village that is dramatically bet as in the bow of a boat. The property comprises three terraces linked by a staircase built into the rock.
can still see the remains of the luxurious decor, done in black and white mosaics. Highlights a semicircular room with two rows of columns, which behaves like a large balcony overlooking the landscape. 
Bathrooms
"The interior finish-chambers, colonnades, and baths, were of multiple styles and very sumptuous"
Flavius \u200b\u200bJosephus
false floor system used for heating water. The floor was raised allowing the hot air circulation underneath. Later it was piped into the clay walls to radiate heat and bring to temperature in the room. 
The bathrooms were surrounded by a patio where bathers exercised, and were decorated with colorful frescoes which, according to Jewish custom, dispensed with human figures.
During the revolt the baths were used for Jewish purification ceremonies, including ritual baths or milkvehs . Synagogue The Zealots were religious fanatics and needed a place to read the Torah. Conditioned why this building, which originally would have been a barn and turned it into a synagogue. This is because one of the oldest synagogues discovered. The rebels changed the internal structure of the conditioned space and a small room to deposit the sacred scrolls. Remains of these texts were found in excavations in the floor.
reconstruction can be seen in the stands that were made around the central space to accommodate special people to prayer. It can be seen the black line that marks the original wall. Stores
Here were two rows of department stores be collected non-perishable food: dates, olives, nuts, salt, oil, wine, etc.., as has been found in archaeological excavations.
Columbaria
were three towers- columbaria at Masada, the lower part was used as a loft, while the top was a watchtower used for surveillance. On the walls are hundreds of niches that housed the pigeons. These were used as sources of food and fertilizer for crops.
the Jewish rebellion.
Many years after the death of Herod in 66 AD, a rebellion broke out in Judea, it was crushed in 70 AD by General Vespasian and his son Titus (we saw this moleskine how both father and son Subsequent emperors used the spoils of this war to build the Colosseum in Rome ). However, a fundamentalist rebel group called the Zealots or Sicarii (the Latin word meaning Sicari "dagger men"), took refuge in the fortress of Masada. Joining them are women and children also joined, forming a group of 1000 people.
According to myth, this site impregnable resistance lasted 3 years, until in 72 AD the Romans decided to build a ramp to attack. Knowing lost, the Jews decided to kill their wives and children and then kill themselves, before falling into slavery (actually, since the Jewish religion forbids suicide, would kill one aOther and one man committed suicide at the end) . When entering the fort the Romans were greeted by a stony silence. This is known by the testimony of some women who took refuge in a hideout, and lived to tell what happened.
This is the version of Roman-Jewish historian Josephus , who today is seen by many as a traitor (at least it was for the man who guided us through the set).
However, modern historians have questioned the validity of his account, as Josephus was in Rome when he revolt. Moreover, some argue that it has exaggerated the heroism of the gunmen, who were not part of the great upheaval and that simply were expelled from Jerusalem. On the other hand, argue that it is logical that the mighty Roman army, an expert in war, has been 3 years hanging around the fort, especially in the hot desert climate. Probably Romans were devoted smash other regions where there were also rebellions Judea, Masada leaving for the final.
Around the fortress the Romans under the command of Flavius \u200b\u200bSilvio, 8 camps built a fortified wall surrounding the site entirely. Remains of these camps can still be seen today, and realize the organization of the Romans to carry out large companies such as the construction of the ramp.
According to studies, the ramp was built in a relatively short time (probably less than 2 months), using wood and clay encasetonados that overlapped crosslapped for reaching an inclination relativamente empinada, ahorrando material y acelerando el tiempo de su construcción.
Esto se debió a que, de acuerdo a estudios de resonancia magnética, había ya una protuberancia natural sobre la que los romanos asentaron relativamente poco material (aprox. el 10%), mucho menos del que parece a simple vista.
Sección de la rampa mostrando la roca natural y la pequeña cantidad de relleno usada para crear la rampa. Imagen cortesía de History Channel. Centro de visitantes
SEE ALSO :
CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE DEFENSE
- The Alhambra, Granada (1238)
- Jaisalmer Fort, India
- Mehrangarh Fort, India.
- Gerona, Spain
- China Great Wall
- Corregidor Island, Philippines
- Berlin Wall, Germany
- Óbidos castle wall. Portugal.
- Pingyao, China
Along with my parents, enduring the scorching heat of Masada. 
This species of crow is typical of the area. In the background, the Dead Sea. 
