Siege of Masada
During the Great Jewish Revolt against Rome (66–73 CE), around 1,000 Jewish rebels—men, women, and children—known as the Sicarii sought refuge on Masada. For seven years, it remained the last free Jewish stronghold in Judea. Eventually, the Roman legions surrounded the mountain, built a massive circumvallation wall, and constructed a siege ramp up the western side. When the Romans finally breached the fortress, the revolt came to its dramatic and heartbreaking end—sealing Masada’s place in history forever.
But Masada’s story doesn’t end with the Roman breach—there’s a dramatic and controversial twist. Rather than be killed or taken into slavery, tradition claims that the rebels chose mass suicide. This act secured Masada a powerful place in Zionist history, yet it also clashes with Jewish belief, which strictly forbids taking one’s own life.
The story comes from the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus Flavius, who described it in his book The Jewish War. To this day, historians debate whether this account is historical fact or legend. Archaeological finds add to the mystery: in the Northern Palace, 11 small ostraca (pottery shards) were discovered, each inscribed with a single name. One reads “ben Ya’ir,” possibly referring to Eleazar ben Ya’ir, the rebel leader. The remaining names may belong to the men allegedly chosen by lottery to carry out the final acts, as Josephus described.
Excavations at Masada uncovered skeletal remains of around 50 individuals, but not the hundreds mentioned in the ancient texts. Whether the rest were never found—or never existed—remains an open question, leaving the truth of the mass suicide story unresolved.
Masada as a symbol
Today, Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds a deeply emotional place in the heart of the Jewish people. While the actions of the Zealots are still debated, Masada has become a symbol of the tragic fall of independent Jewish life in the land of Israel. At the same time, it stands in powerful contrast to Jewish rebirth and the founding of the modern State of Israel. In a moving tradition, Israeli soldiers are often sworn in atop Masada, chanting the famous line from Isaac Lamdan’s poem: “Masada shall never fall again.”
