Masada

The weekend before school began, we took another trip down to Aqaba, Jordan.  On our way down, we stopped at Masada National Park.  Masada is an old fortification on top of a mountain above the Dead Sea.  Myth and legend have crept into the actual history, as often happens in old tales of siege and bravery, but here is the basic gist.  Herod (who was actually a pretty great builder, it turns out) had the palace built back in the day.  About 100 years later, during the first Jewish revolt (Roman Empire days), some 1,000 Jewish rebels (or to some, "extremists"--many historians say this group, called the Sicarii, were ruthless raiders, marauding Romans and Jews alike) fled to Masada.  A siege began with Roman soldiers camped down below.   The Masada inhabitants decided to commit suicide rather than end the siege.  Legend says that the men drew lots to see who would kill the rest before killing themselves.  (Archaeologists have not found the remains of 1,000 bodies, only 30 or so.)  Anyhoo, it's a cool ruin with a neat legend, and we enjoyed a very hot hour and half there.  Click on the first link to see a virtual tour.  It's pretty neat!

 We rode a giant cable car to the top.

The ruins are in great shape, despite the elements, 

and there are amazing views of the Dead Sea and valley below.

 A model of the fortified palace

 that had a Roman bathhouse

The lots

Guess the one who drew the dark one was last man standing

 Tile mural in a Byzantine church

Headed back down