Today we went to Masada, which is a mountain (1280 ft above the Dead Sea) in the desert on the Dead Sea. King Herod the Great built palaces on the site (1 huge one for him & 1 for each of this wives) between 37 -31 BCE. Amazingly many original remains are still standing. King Herod like the good life – he had baths, a steam room, mosaics and frescos.
In 66 CE 964 Jews moved to Masada. After the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans these Jews remained. The Romans sent 6,000 soldiers to oust them. The Jews killed themselves rather than become Roman slaves.
Masada was so hot. I don’t know how the folks survived there depending only upon rain water because it doesn’t rain much in the desert. The Romans devised an elaborate, ingenious system to get water up the mountain.
Although Masada is in the desert, it was strangely beautiful. And the view of the Dead Sea is stunning.
Then we went to Qumran where we saw the ruins of the Essene community there and also saw the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was a good follow on to our visit to the museum the other day.
Then we went to the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth (1,400 ft below sea level). The Dead Sea is huge – although a lot smaller than it used to be – and beautiful. You would never guess by looking at it nothing can live there. We floated in it! It was awesome. You sit down like you are sitting in a chair and your feet pop up! Truly. You just are held up with no work required on your part at all. A great end to a hot day.
Looking Out Seeing Within 