Siege of Masada
WarFirst Jewish-Roman War
Year73 AD
LocationIsrael
BelligerentsRome vs Jewish rebels
About the Battle
The last stand of the Jewish revolt on a mountain fortress above the Dead Sea. Roman siege ramps still survive. According to Josephus, 960 defenders chose mass suicide over slavery, casting lots for the last men. Two women and five children survived by hiding. The site is a symbol of resistance in modern Israel, where soldiers swear their oath. The Roman siege took months for a plateau of defenders.