Masada    

The fortress of Masada was located near the western shore of the Dead Sea (see Map).  Originally constructed during the reign of Alexander Jannaeus, Masada was renovated and expanded by Herod. (Source: http://advance.byu.edu/bym/1997/97spring/ masada2.html)	Another View of Masada from the North
Remains of Columns at Masada (Source: http://advance.byu.edu/bym/1997/97spring/ masada2.html)	View of Masada from the South.  Twelve large cisterns were consructed to hold what liitle rain water fell. Source:  Donald D. Binder, "Masada." http://www.smu.edu/~dbinder/masada.html

  Josephus describes the fortress at Masada as follows, "After following this perilous track for thirty furlongs, one reaches the summit, which, instead of tapering to a sharp peak, expands into a plain. On this plateau the high priest Jonathan first erected a fortress and called it Masada; the subsequent planning of the place engaged the serious attention of King Herod." (War 7.284-86) (Josephus then goes on to describe the details of Herod's expansion of Masada (War 7.286-94).