Masada and its Synagogue

Learning more about Herod's tremendous building feats, the Fort of Masada is especially impressive; due to its magnificent structure situated on top of a high, isolated rock plateau in an arid desert.

In Hebrew: מְצָדָה (metzada) means fortress and is located on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. According to Josephus, the site was first fortified by Hasmonean ruler Alexander Jannaeus in the first century BCE. Herod the Great, after using Masada as a refuge when he fled the Parthian invasion in 40 BCE, later returned and rebuilt the fortress as a palace retreat.  

‍Josephus, Wars 7.8.3​

‍There was a rock, not small in circumference, and very high. It was encompassed with valleys of such vast depth downward, that the eye could not reach their bottoms…. Upon this top of the hill Jonathan the High-priest first of all built a fortress; and called it Masada… After which the rebuilding of this place employed the care of King Herod to a great degree. In the 1960s, archaeologists uncovered a Synagogue there used by Jews during the time of the Great Revolt (66-74 CE).  ​Two shallow pits sunk into the floor of the Synagogue contained scrolls with a copy of Deuteronomy and a copy of Ezekiel.