Masada Feb 2011
Masada is an ancient fortification situated on top of an isolated rock plateau on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built Masada between 37 and 31 BC as his winter retreat and also as a refuge for himself in case his Jewish subjects rebelled or the Romans attacked. The fortress has palaces, storehouses, an armoury, barracks, and a large network of cisterns to collect rainwater.