Israel and Jordan, Winter 2010-2011 / 20101222a_ApproachingMasada Ruth Milner, rmilner plus web at bookofmarvels dot net

Approaching Masada, where 960 Jewish zealots held out against thousands of Romans during a siege in 72 AD, and then killed themselves rather than be captured. The fortress is primarily at the right-hand side of the mesa, where you can see notches in the cliffside (and a dark blob which is at the top of the cablecar run). The top of the plateau, although 1300 feet above the surrounding area, is still below sea level.