Wow - what a place!
Herod built (well, lots of poor slaves did) a palace high up on this mountain fortress. It was his winter palace.
The Jews revolted from the Roman rule and fled here to escape.
The Romans were intent on quelling the rebellion and laid seige to the place to subdue them. The Jews were determined not to be under Roman rule again and when it became imminent that the Romans were about to break through the gates with their rammer the Jews made a plan to all commit suicide during the final night. When the Romans broke into the fortress they found only dead bodies.
How they built this place, it's water cistern, walls etc etc is astounding - what a feat!Read more