Masada, an ancient fortress, was built by King Herod who reigned from 37 B.C. to about four B.C. This fortress had two luxurious palaces, twelve huge cisterns, a synagogue, and a number of other structures. It was built as a refuge from attacks by the Egyptians and former Hasmonian dynasty.

    It is believed when Herod died that a Roman garrison occupied Masada from four B.C. to A.D. 66. A group of Zealots rebelling against Roman empire took over the refuge in A.D. 66.

    The Romans continued to conquer many Jewish strongholds. Titus, the son of the Roman emperor Vepsian, killed and enslaved thousands of Jews involved in the Jewish resistance. It was the remaining 960 men, women and children who fled from the Romans to Masada. This was the last refuge of the Jewish resistance or Zealots.

    In approximately A.D. 75 The Roman governor, Flavius Silva, led the 10^th Legion against the last Jewish stronghold. The Romans circled Masada with eight siege camps.

    The Romans found it too hard to climb the massive rock. Instead, they built a large ramp made of earth against the western side of Masada. After seven months of long and hard work, their ramp was finished.

    During the building of the ramp the leader of the Zealots, Eleazar Ben Yai’r, knowing the Romans were going to be able to reach the fortress, persuaded other Jews to commit suicide.

    When the ramp was finished, the Romans used their battering ram which they pushed up the ramp, and slowly battered the wall of Masada down throughout the night.