Yet again, up early for 6:30 breakfast followed by meeting the bus by 7:30. First destination was Masada National Park – about an hour’s drive southeast of Jerusalem. The drive took us through extremely arid land. Occasionally you would see groupings of sheds housing goats but the life looked pretty hard-scrabble.
When the elevation dropped below sea-level we knew we were getting close to the Dead Sea. Off to the right a flat-topped mountain rose out of the desert. On top there could be seen some signs of buildings. This is Masada National Park – a World UNESCO Heritage Site. Originally Masada was built as a palace retreat and a refuge by King Herod and was used by him until 4 BCE. It was luxurious – cisterns that were filled by a nearby aqueduct whose capacity could keep Masada’s residents hydrated for years, storehouses of grains, Roman baths, swimming pool, pigeon coops.
But the best-known story coming out of Masada took place around 74 CE. A group of Jews rebelling against Roman rule retreated to Masada. 960 rebels met a many month-long siege by the Romans – over 8000 strong. The Roman’s built a series of eight forts around the hill from which they launched their attacks. But the rebels were able to hold them off for months until finally the Romans developed a ramp and tower with which they were able to scale the hill. But by the time they reached the rebel strong-hold the remaining rebels were all dead. Rather than be taken into slavery they killed off their families and then each other. They chose death rather than oppression.
We returned from the top of the Masada mountain by cable-car and headed for the Dead Sea. The Sea is so saline that nothing can survive in it. Some of our group did the Dead Sea Dip – a somewhat ungraceful attempt to keep balanced in a sea that is determined to not let you touch bottom. Any slight scratch would sting when the seawater touched it. And you really didn’t want to get it in your mouth or eyes.
We ate lunch at the resort by the Dead Sea and then headed back to Jerusalem where we attempted to view some of the Stations of the Cross in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Problem was – there were a group of Greek Orthodox monks that were trekking between the stations so we were blocked from checking them out. I was quite tired so decided it was no great loss.
It was good to get back to the room for a shower and head down for a leisurely supper.