The Siege of Masada: What Really Happened?

Masada is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Israel. It is best known from a dramatic episode described by Josephus in his account The Jewish War when the Judean rebels in the First Jewish Revolt made an epic last stand against the Tenth Roman Legion. But what really happened at Masada? And does the archaeological record support Josephus' account?
www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast
religionforbreakfast
Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry
Sources:
Josephus' account: www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...
Jodi Magness, Archaeology of the Holy Land.
Gwyn Davies, “Under Siege: The Roman Field Works at Masada,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 362 (May 2011), 65-83
For more on the skeletons found at Masada, see: jamestabor.com/masada-mysteri...
Photo Credits:
IDF Soldiers: bobointexas.blogspot.com/2011/...
Masada at night, Avinoam Michaeli commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Credit: Andrew Shiva
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Ben-Yair Ostracon: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Siege Ramp: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Siege tower: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helepol...
Northern palace complex: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Palace terraces: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

Welp, this video has already been demonetized and confirmed by manual review. As it turns out, mass suicide is not an advertiser friendly topic. If you're willing and able, feel free to donate over at Patreon to protect this channel from the advertiser algorithm!: www.patreon.com/religionforbreakfast

[@namingisdifficult408]

ReligionForBreakfast yikes.

[@kathryngeeslin9509]

How utterly absurd.

[@elfarlaur]

Damn... It sucks that educational videos don't get treated as they should

[@theblindcritic5876]

KZbin is being really stupid here, then. You're literally discussing history. The same kind of content would be featured on a BBC documentary. Why don't you try getting sponsors for your videos, like Squarespace or (far more appropriate for a history/religion/learning channel like yours) Brilliant.org? I certainly wouldn't mind a bit of advertisement for something like that given the insanely high quality content of your channel, and how dumb KZbin's policies are becoming.

[@XalphYT]

It's an absolutely interesting video. Shame about the demonetization.

[@USERNAMEfieldempty]

"What have The Romans ever done for us?" . . . "Built a huge siege ramp?"

[@Zeldarw104]

What have you done for me lately?! The Romans: everythin'🤨

[@ralphkrattli6607]

Schooling sanitation roads.... ah yea but apart from that....? Oh man I did not expect a Spanish Inquisition...

[@beachmasterX]

What hasn't Rome done for us?!?

[@lotuslicciardi5872]

@@Zeldarw104 actually Romans didn't do anything that people before them didn't already do. Religion, writing, architecture, education, temples, etc were actually done by Africans first.

[@nijigaharaTV]

@@lotuslicciardi5872 Mesopotamia, Persia or India ain't Africa sis

[@timeaesnyx]

Suicide rather than capture was a trope in Roman literature.

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

Indeed, hence the suspicion of Josephus' accuracy.

[@timeaesnyx]

ReligionForBreakfast 😄 yup. Thank you, I am slowly making my way through the myth of disenchantment. It has disturbed me on occasion.

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

It’s a great book. I think he puts too much trust in self-reported surveys in the early chapters, but the later history of science chapters are pure gold.

[@LChem1]

Josephus was a Jew, and of the essene, pharasee and saduccee sects. And a General. Not Roman

[@timeaesnyx]

Purr Cat yes, but the culture we live in affects our personality and writing style.

[@lakrids-pibe]

I remember the miniseries with Peter O'Toole as Lucius Flavius Silva.

[@self-improvementman4489]

Wow... imagine walking along the same paths as the Roman soldiers did, so long ago.

[@MaxieDeca]

If you live anywhere in Europe you probably do it nearly everyday. How cool is that.

[@petertsharp4970]

@@MaxieDeca Yeah. In England the Roman roads have been converted into highways in parts.

[@typograf62]

@@MaxieDeca Few Romans walked in Denmark. A small fleet sailed around Jutland under the reign and ambitions of Octavian. After all the Roman Empire ended south of the Elbe. Until 1972.

[@alvaroakatico9188]

You don’t have to imagine, you can go back in time and walk amongst the Romans. They say anything is possible, the Bible tells us so. What are you waiting for?

[@KingfisherTalkingPictures]

I have to remember that native Americans probably trod every “wilderness” space I’ve ever hiked in California.

[@miaroman9320]

Great video! Visited a month ago and went through many of the same thoughts and feelings that you shared. Crazy place!

[@elfarlaur]

I love the quality of your videos but at the same time wish you posted more often XD I love religious studies. Studying religion is one of the reasons why I'm studying medieval history now. All of the discussions of what was important to the people of the time and how they understood the world fascinate me. Keep up the excellent work!

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Let's be honest. Life in ancient times was dreadful and horrifying whether you were at war or not.

[@srothbardt]

Quite

[@dersitzpinkler2027]

This video is super interesting. I love this channel!

[@unclegrim]

Such an incredible view! Great video yet again.

[@namingisdifficult408]

I always look forward to your videos.

[@johntaylor9381]

Good video. I wish you could post more. Keep up the good work.

[@BozoTheBear]

I visited Masada only about a month before you did this video. Very interesting site, and I felt similarly to you when thinking about what occurred right there.

[@polarodriguez3605]

I visited in 1995, it was the best part of my trip.

[@cq7415]

Excellent footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@idanzamir7540]

I in Israel and it's a family tradition of ours to climb the snake trail every "Lag Ba'Omer" and do a picnic at the top.

[@Jesus.purple]

Jesus bless Israel✡✡🕂

[@7thstar602]

Nice place for a picnic...

[@7thstar602]

@@Jesus.purple hahaha

[@nicholasjohnson7325]

Good story-telling! Thank you. :)

[@LADYNASH66]

Seriously: Your channel is amazing and I could listen to your pleasant voice all day! Keep up the good work and greetings from Germany! :)

[@chrismo9473]

Lady Natascha Agree!

[@Sgt_McChubbs]

Thank you so much for this video @ReligionForBreakfast. I showed it to my 6th grade classes when studying Ancient Israel and I think you do a phenomenal job explaining the story and the views are amazing! A bit fast on the talking, but otherwise just great!

[@paulvarathan6349]

Years ago i watched the TV series: MASADA. Very Interesting. Thanks for this video.

[@Reignor99]

Seeing those camps from that fortress must have been a terrifying reminder that nothing is impossible.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Yes indeed, especially since you knew that it was an inevitability that they would at some point breach their fortress and overwhelm you. Day by day you see your margin of safety slowly but surely eroded. That would be enough to drive many/most people insane.

[@timeisapathwalkingtounderstand]

Here in New York City Sunday March 24th 2:30 a.m. just finished watching this video wanted to say thank you for posting this historical explanation on Masada and it's magnificent view I get this video thumbs up

[@dennis-qu7bs]

Awesome review

[@SwipSedai]

As someone who turns into a goat anywhere near a hill shaped object your anecdote about the path made me want to try walking it. Something about hills and mountains makes me want to test my limits and push myself even though I'm normally a relax whenever possible person and terrified of climbing, don't know what it is.

[@Thingsandcosas]

Goat in a past life 🤷‍♂️ it’s actually an enjoyable climb. Not terribly difficult, but not a piece of cake

[@martinrenthlei3303]

keep up the good work bro

[@christhayil8354]

Was there and hiked up that trail back in '97. I'll never forget it

[@Grmario85]

Excellent material! Pity i didn't meet you in Jerusalem man, it would have been an interesting chat.

[@Tekrothebountyhunter]

I feel like it is more likely that the rebels at Masada fought the Romans, that the rebels were slaughtered, that a few significant rebel individuals committed suicide, and that the ancient historians stretched the truth for attention as they tended to. Though that's not to say the defenders of Masada weren't courageous.

[@MogofWar]

Nah! The Sicari definitely did not want to be captured alive because the Romans were not planning on killing them quickly. If they thought they would fall, they fought, but if they thought they were to be taken alive, they probably killed themselves.

[@manuelmed98]

@@MogofWar the risk of being at your enemies' mercy is true for all sieges in the ancient world. do people commit mass suicide in all of them? no, not even remotely most.

[@MogofWar]

@@manuelmed98 That could all come down to exactly what crimes your enemies intended to try you or what information they believe they could extract from you... such as, in the case of the Romans intending to take the inhabitants of Masada alive, there was the strong suspicion that Parthian agents were among the Zealots, and getting said Zealots to refuse to be taken alive was how said agents would take their secrets to their graves. The Sicarii thus had three fears; being enslaved, being tried for their crimes, or being interrogated. Either pain, abject humiliation, or both awaited them, but q valiant end didn't because the Romans, with the decisive advantages in every relevant category, were fully prepared to actually take them alive and do what they will once they were prisoners... So there was only one course of action that would foil the Romans, and that was taking their own lives.

[@LisaForTruth]

RFB-I just found this channel; don't know what took me so long. I love this shit! Psychology is my passion, but archeology runs a close second :)

[@Zeldarw104]

I'm the same way good to see a kindred spirit! I'm a history geek. 🙂

[@MermaidSyrena]

Thank you for being clear & preside about MASADA. When I visited Israel for it's 70th yr as a state, I went to MASADA $ this is what they told us.

[@melvinmayfield470]

Very Well-Done!

[@hiimetai7547]

Are you still in Israel? if yes maybe you could talk about the religion of the Bahai? they have 2 religions center in Israel, one in Haifa and one in Acre

[@seankennedy5074]

A former Bahai here, now Christian, and yes I would like to see a video about the Bahai faith. Hoping he will sometime do a video on Manichaeism and also the heretical Christian beliefs such as Arianism, Nestorianism and the Iconoclasts. I think his insights would be very interesting.

[@elfarlaur]

He spoke a little bit about Arianism in the video about the Nicene and other councils, but I too would like to hear more about these counter-Calcedonian beliefs as well as Manicheanism

[@seankennedy5074]

Not much has been said so far about these Persian religions, except for the video on Mithras. Zoroanastrism has had a significant impact on 3 of the world's great religions, and is still practised in it's homelands plus the Parsis on the Indian subcontinent. I think a video on Zoroastrianism would be good as it has been so influential, even the whole concept of the Demiurge appears related to Zoroastrian beliefs. While I am putting in a shopping list a discussion on the origins, beliefs and practices of the Druze would be valuable as well. Thanks!

[@GaviLazan]

He is no longer in Israel, but I think he *may* have some plans to make one about Bahai. I am pretty sure he visited Haifa when he was here.

[@SophieHatterLeFay]

Wow this is amazing 👍

[@jumemowery9434]

Great film footage! Thanks!

[@wennesregnet]

Ive been there. Its really impressive and worth visiting.

[@mayrakopjansen2814]

This was so heartbreaking

[@rufousdederp]

I would love to take that snake path. Maybe ride the gondola thing back down because I know I will be tired, but it looks like a beautiful walk. Plus I would feel more connected with the history if I could walk it 🤗 thanks for such a great video 👍

[@judemock2699]

I walked the snake path and it was a phenomenal experience. I plan on going back to Israel soon. Thank you for the video it was truly educational. Shabbat shalom

[@sambeach2726]

Take the cable car up and enjoy the walk down. It’s easier. I was an avid runner and still did it this way. Also gives you more time on top . Fascinating place.

[@craftpaint1644]

Who could exaggerate this event? Everything about it is an absolutely qualified epic. And today we just see ruins, when it was actually being carried out, on the eyes real you know? Amazing.

[@DallasMay]

Recommendation: can you do a video on St. George?

[@yaitz3313]

Is it possible that both are true? Maybe the defenders initially fought bitterly, but once forced to withdraw to the palace citadel, committed mass suicide.

[@ABird971]

Thank you! Always rational never boring!

[@guitarmike37308]

Masada is a must-see for history/archeological minded travelers.

[@gischalav]

roman lore lovers 🤝 jewish lore appreciators masada fort

[@robbabcock_]

I'd love to see Masada someday!

[@paherbst524]

I loved Masada. Such an awesome site. crazy hot... i almost died of dehydration.

[@kathylunsford6426]

BEST VID EVERRRRR

[@Bwkjam]

@ReligionForBreakfast Could you do a small miniseries on the Jewish Revolt? One question I would particularly like answered is to what extent if any early Christians played in the revolt.

[@tonylast9181]

Early christians played no part whatsoever in the jewish revolt

[@wufflerdance9481]

watch the masada tv mini series from 1981. it is excellent

[@Napoleonic_S]

maybe looked like the siege of minas tirith viewed from the top of the city like in the movie XD of course for the real people back then it wouldn't feel epic, just dread and depressing.

[@vicenterivera188]

My knees hurt just by watching this

[@bereftspud279]

Please talk more about the Jewish temples!

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

I have a few videos in the pipeline along those lines. I'll post a video about the Western Wall in Jerusalem for example in the next few months.

[@bereftspud279]

I can't wait to see them.

[@nakonakoboo]

the layout of the palace fort reminds me of Mias tirith

[@codekillerz5392]

Nice

[@headrockbeats]

I had to climb the snake path during a school trip in 7th grade. I don't recall it being difficult at all, at that age. On the other hand, I don't recall nearly anything about that trip, since I was much more interested in my friends and the girls. :P Ah, to be young again.

[@totomorenodosal]

headrock next time please think (Can you?) before you diseminate hints of infinite BS of which your brain apparently is made of.

[@thescoobymike]

Woah that view

[@LisaForTruth]

I'm not exactly sure what youtube has a problem with. It happened; yes, it's sad, but get over it. Just because something is sad doesn't make it untrue, and retelling it should not get you demonetized

[@darrellcrawford1769]

It hurts my feelings

[@haztochekacharon6353]

The ramp was a natural formation. There was no need to build a ramp from scratch. With a little work it was made accessible for the soldiers. At the top in front of the wall where the siege tower would have stood there are the remains of the wooden beams built as a platform to support the tower.

[@ousamadearu5960]

Actually it is partly true. The true part is that the ramp is a natural formation, but it was practically lower than it was now. Roman Engineering did the trick of building the entire ramp, and also continue to fight just for the sake of victory.

[@deadlegification]

I heard voices & string music up there.Spooked me a bit

[@arefinkamal7654]

Can you do a video on dispensationalism, how it's a modern Western concept, and how Christian empires of Late Antiquity had no interest in restoring Jerusalem to the Jews and helping them build the temple?

[@greatwolf5372]

Too theological and political.

[@chansesturm7103]

He recently did a video on the concept of the Rapture that touches on dispensationalism.

[@TreespeakerOfTheLand]

Those are some high hights... Imagine walking there without handrails!

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

Yeah, it was scary looking over the edge.

[@secretscipio]

ReligionForBreakfast imagine how the Romans had done that.

[@TooLittleInfo]

I would have Darwined myself by tripping over my own feet and sending myself over the edge 😂😂

[@sophroniel]

And may it never fall again...

[@dahliadressler7704]

that is crazy and cool

[@L4V4G]

In 2022, I went to Israel and on our last day there we climbed Mount Masada. Took about 40 minutes and then we learned about the history of it and, It’s very pretty and disturbing but you can see where the Dead Sea is and so much more.

[@peetsnort]

Even in cape town the Italian POW of ww2 built a lovely road over the mountain to the karoo area

[@davidstewart5248]

The way i always understood things Was that it was josephus that was in the cave with the rebels... i mean some people put their faith in writings a lot older than 2000 years ....

[@marc-ericleblanc-seguin4514]

Since you’ve already talked about the canon of Star Wars and Religion in the Legend of Zelda, you could talk about more fictional religions like the many religions in the Star Wars (Disney) New Canon and the Star Wars Expanded Universe/Legends ?

[@Napoleonic_S]

I'd like to see "a study" about religion in the 2004 Battlestar Galactica series XD it's definitely greek based, with many twists.

[@savagex466-qt1io]

Your lucky to have gone there man. Cant belive they made there own ramp with all that rock.

[@smithcm14]

8:00 looks like you’re playing Riven.

[@StopFear]

For the persons who made this video. The Judeans who were hiding in the Masada mountain are actually known as the “Essenes” which I think are a particular hyper religious fanatic Judaic sect.

[@blakebailey22]

Where did the idea first come up in which suicide is considered a major sin? I know in catholicism that's the case but were there other points before that?

[@secretscipio]

Well, it looks to be a Catholic thing only. As a Hindu I can confirm that we too had this " Die rather than surrender " attitude like the Jews. Only difference is that our children were given poisen for easy death and women jumped into fire & men would fight until death.

[@lukasj5286]

Not an in-depth answer, but I tried to quickly look it up and it seems to be a rather post-exegetical question (regarding modern judaism as well as christian denominations). I checked an acknowleged German online source (www.bibelwissenschaft.de/stichwort/28321/) and I'll try to provide you with an accurate translation of the summary: Es gibt keinen biblischen Text, der das Phänomen des Suizids an sich grundsätzlich reflektiert und in bestimmten Situationen den Suizid als beste oder schlechtest mögliche Wahl vorschreibt. Es gibt lediglich Fallbeschreibungen von Ausnahmesituationen, in denen der Suizid gewählt wird. Es sind durchweg individuelle Entscheidungen. So nehmen Simson und Eleasar ihren Tod in Kauf, während sie eine Heldentat vollbringen. Abimelech und Saul sind schon tödlich getroffen und wollen ihren Tod nur beschleunigen. Bei Sauls Waffenträger, Ahitofel, Simri, Ptolemäus, Rasi und Judas kann man noch am ehesten von Suizid sprechen. There is no biblical text which reflects the phenomenon of suicide on a basic level and describes suicide to be the best or worst choice in a given situation. There's only descriptions of extraordinary cases where suicide is chosen. These choises are always taken individually. Simson (/Samson) and Eleasar accept their death by acting heroically. Abimelech and Saul are already deathly injured and just want to speed up their death. Regarding the servants of Saul (I won't look up all the English names) it's probably more adequate to speak of suicide. __________________________ In Christianity, suicide seems to be viewed in a more negative light after the suicide of Jude, however it would be interesting (at least for me) why and how (modern) Judaism came to similar conclusions.

[@pansepot1490]

Blake Bailey, just my guess but the first Christians, so at least we are told, faced martyrdom willingly and gleefully because they expected to go to heaven. The concept of heaven didn't exist in Jewish culture so there was no need to put a stop to people seeking to die en masse in order to be with Christ. If you think about it, what should stop people from killing themselves if it's true that this life is just a transient painful stage and we get real life and happiness after death? And in antiquity, considering slavery and the social structure as a whole, the large majority of people had a miserable life. I believe that the institution of suicide as a major sin was a fix for the problems caused by too many people taking the promises of the new religion at their word.

[@PBAmygdala2021]

For a great scholarly review of the events including pointing out all the problems with Josephus' account, I recommend reading "A History of the Jewish War, A.D. 66-74" by Steve Mason, Distinguished Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Religions and Cultures at the University of Groningen.

[@joshuajackson4742]

So true wow

[@LangThoughts]

Could you do an episode about Kabbalah? Focusing on the idea that the late 90s and early aughties "celebrity" Kabbalah movement isn't the only Kabbalah, and that most people who study it from a native perspective see it as non-magical, and that its study should be restricted to the Jewish Intellectual Elite. I think it's something that people don't get, and would be a start for people understanding Orthodox Judaism, including Chasidus,.

[@LangThoughts]

Also, a good thing would be to go to Uman, Ukraine before or after a Rosh Hashanah (They probably wouldn't allow you to film on the holiday), as I think the fact that Jews are making Pilgrimages to sites outside of Biblical Israel, with the fact we can't go to sites in Iraq, given the political situation there, (though there is one site in Jordan, but non-Muslims are not allowed to enter, though recently Israeli Jews did disguise themselves as Israeli Arabs and make a pilgrimage there) would be surprising to people, especially since Jews are leaving Israel for a Pilgrimage to Ukraine.

[@GraemeMarkNI]

Feels like Helm’s Deep.

[@indialover83]

Could you please point out the place of worship of the Jews at masada? A synagogue or something facing Jerusalem?

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

The synagogue is on the west side of the plateau, north of the siege ramp. As far as I know, its one of the earliest examples of a synagogue known to archaeologists.

[@indialover83]

ReligionForBreakfast Thanks for the reply. Is it facing Jerusalem or the Temple Mount?

[@indialover83]

ReligionForBreakfast Your work is commendable and your way of interpreting things is very different yet unique and very close to truth. Thanks on behalf of thousands like me who can't go there any soon. I suggest you write books too...

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

Jerusalem is northwest of Masada, so it is possible that the synagogue was purposely oriented on the west side of the plateau. I'd need to know more about the interior layout of the building to know whether or not the rituals conducted in the synagogue were meant to be oriented toward Jerusalem. And yes I'd like to write books, I have a few outlines drawn up...but I need to finish my PhD dissertation first!

[@indialover83]

ReligionForBreakfast All the best for all your endeavours! What's the PhD topic? Just curious!

[@Richard_is_cool]

6:25 What are those floor-markings? They do look a bit suspicious.

[@Helenbella]

Is it ok that i copi your video ? i hope its ok,thank you

[@scottfuller1711]

Don't you guys do any research at all? The battle of mount Masada was the end of the 3rd and final rebellion against Rome. The war against Rome was lost many years earlier.

[@jayledermann7701]

2 reason I believe the story. 1 , everything he talked about was found. Cisterns, Roman camps and ramp , even names. 2nd...He was writing the story with the Roman's who were at the battle reading this. If Generals or soldiers had won a hard fought to the death type of battle....do u think they would allow him to steal that from them and have them enter the fortress with everyone already dead ? I don't think so....

[@zvidanyatvetski8081]

Great video but you really need to turn down the treble on your voice over a bit

[@steveg5576]

How long did it take the Romans to build the ramp ?

[@archstanton6965]

3 months? Maybe someone has a more accurate answer.

[@MichaelJonesC-4-7]

Look at the terrain. It's all dust, stones and dirt. Some _paradise._ We have deserts in America, too. We just don't live in them.

[@craftpaint1644]

The Masada Palace had water enough to maintain large gardens all around about the grounds up there. The ancestors knew and did much without our technical stuff - probably Because they didn't have it.

[@MichaelJonesC-4-7]

_"probably?!?!_ Just Masada. The rest of Israel is a sand pit full of rocks. The _Holy Lands_ are just "shithole countries". pbs.twimg.com/media/B7w_8QNCQAEAT5c.png:large May god b-less. ; )

[@user-qv6nv6gt1s]

@@MichaelJonesC-4-7 Not true, only the southern half of israel is a desert, the other half is not, it's valleys and even forests, in israel there is a great deal of diversity of environment for such a small area. Not to mention that in the time of the romans the environment was different and richer. Why shitposting nonsense when you clearly don't know what you are talking about. And consider the stupid picture you linked to (seriously, is this an attempt to show how witty you are) it makes it harder to take you seriously.

[@MichaelJonesC-4-7]

@@user-qv6nv6gt1s למי איכפת? זין.

[@secretscipio]

Masada shall never fall again! Respect to Jews around the world.

[@stole1389]

Respect from Serbia

[@GaviLazan]

A note about the IDF ceremony: The vast majority of swearing in ceremonies don't take place at Masada, and in general, each unit decides where they are going to hold it (sometimes changing each draft cycle). I would say that the most common location for a swearing in ceremony is at the Western Wall in the plaza, followed by ceremonies that take place on the unit's base. Technically "on base" would be first, but since there are many bases I'm not really counting them as one place.

[@cdshop1301]

All this educational stuff is great and all, but all your video footage makes israel look like a really cool looking place.

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

It is a pretty cool looking place. I’m taking suggestions on how to use all my hours of footage. Educational vids come naturally.

[@randomlyweirdjeff4638]

Shay Cohen says the account of Josephus is incomplete and inaccurate and contradicted by the skeletons in the cave. Cohen is of the opinion that some jews fought, some did unalive themselves, and some attempted to hide and escape.

[@aninditasakti]

Why romans did not use that cable cars to go up there, it's lot safer? Wait it's not invented yet, oh okay....

[@giauscaesar8047]

But if they did commit mass suicide then where are the bodies ?

[@archstanton6965]

I’ve read where the Romans just tossed the bodies over the sides of the cliff. Food for wild animals and nature. Romans did not bury bodies of those they killed in battle.

[@srothbardt]

Please, everyone! Quote or refer to your sources! Evidence!!

[@mookosh]

Masada broke before the guard did :')

[@sarahharris2729]

what happened to this video?! wont play!!!

[@ReligionForBreakfast]

No idea...i just checked and it is working for me...

[@notsocrates9529]

"Shall we fight to the death and take as many Romans with us, or do we go out like cowards?"

[@jeffreyhampton9130]

I visited. To my thinking, the Romans were the zealots. The Jews had reason to hope they’d be left alone. There are perfectly sized rocks everywhere in this region. They simply lobbed rocks off the plateau each time the Romans made an attempt. Three years building that ramp. Can you imagine how many Romans were killed by rocks accelerating down the steep slope? The Romans would not have been in the mood to take prisoners. By the way, it’s nice up there. Plenty of water. Crops. They would have had fruit trees. They even raised squabs (pigeons basically) for meat.

[@StopFear]

I don’t know whether suicide is any act that “preserves honor”. Doesn’t it show that the men who committed suicide refused to be killed in combat? If they were going to die anyway then seems suicide is something that’s done out of fear of death in battle? Women and children could choose for themselves whether death or slavery is better. I am not writing this as some kind of “suicide is always wrong” argument. Just strange how reasoning for it by Essenes did it.

[@Reignor99]

They thought death was better than being brutally gang-raped in front of their families.

[@lensman67]

Well now I know. KZbin just removed my first post despite the fact that is was simply a historical comment. Kind of scary. As I noted, it is strange that Israel is so attached to Masada given the parallels between the siscari and the PLO, both of whom fought foreign invaders.

[@LChem1]

Not the first nor last Jewish war. Think of Masada as the Jim Jones of Judea. Josephous said the cause of the revolt was Taxes! I laughed out load when i read that 30+ years ago, they were nothing like today. Or 30 years ago. Also, Rome controlled and possessed the temple priest garments, which would irritating

[@happierabroad]

why didn't the romans just take off their armor and march up the slope in the dark at night?

[@sandrodream5418]

Big Respect from a Roman descend to Masada death

[@peetsnort]

And now you know why the helicopter was invented

[@junesilvermanb2979]

Helicopter en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter

[@tamirhalperin2404]

Why don't you cover the life of Josephus and look into his relationship with the Flavians, their relationship with Christianity, and the relationship between the Flavians and the Alexandrian Jewish Diaspora. It turns out that the Jews were the tax collectors of Rome but from Alexandria, not from Jerusalem. Jerusalem was in competition with Rome as well as with Alexandria. Does Josephus have connections in Alexandria that would have positioned him in ways that explain his extraordinary life journey through all of Jewish culture and then a member of the Flavian family, itself? He seems to have both failed and succeeded, royally, on all accounts. Joseph Atwill explains in his book, Caesar's Messiah, that Josephus probably supported Alexandrian interests in Rome at the unfortunate expense of the stiff-necked zealots in Jerusalem who managed the temple in opposition to Roman law. What if "Christianity" merely refers to a genre of "Messianicism" movements, cults, and secret societies that Rome was trying to keep under its thumb and, as Atwill asserts, the story of Jesus, somewhat akin to the story of Borat, was written to ask the various Messianics to come to grips with their unrealistic aspirations for religious independence? A Roman friendly Jesus character who comes out of the backwoods, hands marked from manual labor, a real man of the people, and he starts preaching the most anti-Jewish, pro-Roman fan club imaginable. It all actually sounds like a Roman comedy to bring things into perspective. And the harmonized typology that Atwill points out between the Jesus stories and the history recorded by Josephus is astounding, to be sure.