Masada: Herod's Fortress and the Zealots' Last Stand

A quarter-century after his death, Yadin is still the best-known and probably still the most important archaeologist Israel has produced. (He was also, in his other life, Chief of Staff of the Defense Forces and Assistant Prime Minister under Menachem Begin.) This marvelous book was published when I was a college senior pursuing a degree in Classical Studies, and I happened to be immersed in Josephus -- the only written source for the Jewish civil war, of which Masada was the climax -- when someone first called my attention to it. Perfect timing! The doomed defense of Masada against Flavius Silva's siege, and the suicide of the defenders rather than surrendering, was, of course, one of the most dramatic and vividly emotional events in Rome's history -- at least to us, nearly twenty centuries later. But the plateau had been inhabited for generations before that, especially by the Herodians, who built a fortified refuge at the north end. Yadin's expedition in the early 1960s thoroughly investigated Herod's three-level palace, complete with wall paintings and floor mosaics (and an enormous horde of First Century coins), as well as the physical remains of the Roman siege and the Jewish defense. Among those remains was a small collection of potsherds, on one of which was written the name "Ben Ya'ir." I imagine its discovery made the finder's hair stand up on end, for Eleazar ben Ya'ir was the leader of the Zealots, and these ostraca were almost certainly connected with the very last defenders, those who killed all the others on Masada and then killed each other, until the last survivor killed himself. This is a popular treatment of the expedition's discoveries, but the level of scholarship is still profound. It's also heavily illustrated, with nearly a hundred color plates and numerous maps and plans. If you're interested in Israel's archaeology (as opposed to "Bible archaeology," whatever that means), this is a book you will want to own.

This is an excellent book about the "dig" at Masada and the history of that dominant piece of rock in the Judean desert. I have been there and "kicked the tires" in May 2007 and was interested in expanding my knowledge of what has transpired there over the centuries. Excellent historical, archaeological narrative and pictures and as the Israeli Soldiers say when taking their oath on the rock..."Never Again".

If you are at all interested in bibical history, then this book is for you. Mr Yadin writes extremely well and there are innumerable pictures to support the text

Respected historian and archaeologist Yigael Yadin is an expert on the well-known ancient Masada fortress, and here he presents the incredible story of the 960 Jewish men, women, and children who refused to be taken alive by Flavius Silva and his Roman Tenth Legion. This covers the siege of Masada, the mass suicide of the 960 rebels (when victory was clearly impossible they decided that "a death of glory was preferable to a life of infamy" (as prisoners)), and the 1963-1965 excavations at Masada that yielded a huge amount of artifacts that reveal even more about the rebels, who were led by Eleazar ben Yair. This is a compelling story made even better by the more than 200 photos showing all kinds of artifacts, including spearpoints, coins, pottery, jewelry, surviving Old Testament scrolls, skeletons, even clothing items that have survived to this day! There's also a generous amount of maps that are very helpful. This siege is one of the most interesting in military history, and this story is a lasting testament to the strong character of the Jewish people.

Yigael Yadin is a gifted author who narrates history with captivating excitement. I have read several books and articles on the subject of Masada over the past several years and would recommend this as the most informative and understandable of them all. The before, during and after, excavation photos are amazing and contribute volumes in giving the reader the "Masada Experience." This book is valuable for both the novice and the scholar. It's an excellent introduction to what Masada is all about for the novice. The scholar will find Yadin's love of history details and his awesome photo illustrations compelling and helpful for instruction as well as understanding.