Masada, World Heritage Site in Israel

Masada is a former fortress on a hill overlooking the Dead Sea. It was once built as a Herodian detached palace, and was destroyed by the Roman army in 73 AD. Today, there are still many remains, and the architectural style of the early Roman period can still be seen today.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Masada is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Masada!

What is Masada?

The Dead Sea in eastern Israel.　Masada was a palace and fortress on a cliff facing the Dead Sea.It was a natural fortress with only one road from the base to the top of the hill.Originally, in the 2nd century B.C., Herod the Great of the Herodian dynasty built a luxurious palace in Roman style, and after the area became a Roman province, it was an impregnable fortress during the Jewish War (66-73), and became the “last fortress” from the Jewish side.

The Romans surrounded the area but were unable to bring it down, and finally filled the area between the cliffs with earth and tried for two years to bring it down.However, it was the custom of the time to be enslaved if defeated, and almost all the Jews who were in the siege chose death.

Thus, although the war between the Roman army and the Jews was over, the site became a symbolic existence for the Jews.The induction ceremony for the current Israel Defense Forces officer corps is held at the site, and graduates even chant “Masada shall not fall again”.

Nevertheless, we know that Masada has great value as an archaeological site, and that Herod the Great’s palace was a very complete Roman palace.And the palace still retains the remains of its terraces, which were of excellent architectural design. Even today, the terrace overlooks the Dead Sea.Although the surrounding area is desert and very arid, the water supply system was well maintained. It is thought that 1,000 people could have lived there for two to three years with just one day of rain.

For what reason is Masada on the World Heritage List?

Masada was evaluated on the following points.

Registration Criterion (iii)
The existence of Masada is the mark of the Jewish Kingdom and the Jewish War, and later a symbol of the Diaspora (ethnic separation).

Registration Criterion (iv)
Including fortifications, and that Herod the Great’s palace was an excellent example of an early Roman imperial detached palace.

Registration Criterion (vi)
The point that the fall of Fort Masada has become a cultural identity for Jews.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Comments

It has quite a military image as a natural fortress, and in fact it was very active during the Jewish War, but another point to appreciate is that the ruins of a gorgeous palace with terraces remain as Herod the Great’s detached palace.It is excellent as an archaeological site, but above all, for Jews, it exists as a “memory as a people that should not be forgotten.

However, there is actually a ropeway from the foot of the mountain, and as long as you pay for it, it is only a short ride to the top of the mountain.Of course, it can be enjoyed as a “sightseeing spot” as well, so don’t worry.

*The content here is a discussion derived from research conducted by a World Heritage enthusiast. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.