Saturday, August 16, 2014

South Israel Tour 1st part; Astounding Palace of Masada

8-days Pinoy solo backpacking in Winter Israel
November 02 to November 10, 2013

West Israel tour 2nd part; Old Acre and Rosh Hanikra 

November 06, Wednesday, the last day of pre-organized trip, for biblical highlights of Southern Israel. This trip includes Masada and Dead Sea, with charge of $109 economy seat per pax and the departing point is Tel-Aviv. Departing time is 0730H while my arrival destination is Jerusalem at around 1800H.

Masada National park opens from 0800H-1700H, closes 1-hr earlier on Fridays and holidays. There are two entrances, East and West. Eastern entrance include archaeological displays, cashiers, souvenir shop and access to the mountain by a 3-min cable car ride or a 45min walk up to the snake path. Western Entrance includes Cashier, snack bar and 15min climb. There is no road between the east and western side of Masada. Driving time from one side to another is approximately 1.5 hr.

Masada was inscribed on the UNESCO world Heritage list in 2001. Masada was the last bastion of Jewish freedom fighters against the Romans; its fall signaled the violent destruction of the kingdom of Judea at the end of the Second Temple Period. The tragic events of the last days of the Rebels at Masada transformed it into both a Jewish cultural icon. Built by Herod, King of Judea, Masada was a palatial fortress in the style of the Ancient Roman east. The camps, fortification, and assault ramp at its base constitute the most complete surviving ancient roman siege system in the world.
 
Masada National Park

Judean Desert bound to Masada

sea level starts here to descend going to Masada and Dead Sea

Qumran cave where the Dead Seal Scrolls are found

going to Masada National Park overlooking the Judean Desert and Dead Sea

going to Masada National Park

Masada is an ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel situated on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built palaces for himself on the mountain and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE. The Siege of Masada by troops of the Roman Empire towards the end of the First Jewish–Roman War ended in the mass suicide of the 960 Jewish rebels and their families hiding there. Masada is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of Arad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada

The plateau of Masada is located on the Eastern fringe of the Judean Desert near the shore of the Dead Sea between En Gedi and Sodom. It is a mountain bloc that rose and was detached from the fault escarpment, surrounded at its base by Wadi Ben Yair on the west and Wadi Masada on the south and east. The plateau, 450 meters above the level of Dead Sea, is approximately 650 meters long and 300 meters wide. East of the mountain is sediment left by the Ancient Dead sea, scored by numerous cracks. Masada is closed to two ancient routes; one cut through the center of the Judean Desert and led to the southern Moab in eastern Transjordan; the other connection Edom, Moab and the Arava Valley to En Gedi and Jerusalem. Masada's remote location and its natural defenses were the advantages that transformed into a fortress during the Second Temple period.

Masada National Park

on Masada National Park overlooking the Judean Desert

on Masada National Park overlooking the Judean Desert

on Masada National Park overlooking the Judean Desert

Masada National Park

Masada National Park

Masada National Park


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