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November 25th - Day 13
November 25th - Day 13
This was a big day. We had to be up early to meet a tour guide who took us to Masada, the Dead Sea, and the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, but it was worth it.
This was a big day. We had to be up early to meet a tour guide who took us to Masada, the Dead Sea, and the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, but it was worth it.
The entire region is steeped in history. Masada was built by King Herod in 30 BCE, and was then taken over by Jewish rebels in 66 CE. Their stand against the Romans, who laid siege to the fortress eight years later, is to Jews what the Alamo is to Texans. Hilary and I were there with the girls eleven years ago. And the Ein Gedi nature reserve, regarded as one of the most beautiful in Israel, has an ancient temple at the top of a ridge overlooking the Dead Sea that we had never seen before. We're looking forward to returning, and learning more about this fascinating area.
The entire region is steeped in history. Masada was built by King Herod in 30 BCE, and was then taken over by Jewish rebels in 66 CE. Their stand against the Romans, who laid siege to the fortress eight years later, is to Jews what the Alamo is to Texans. Hilary and I were there with the girls eleven years ago. And the Ein Gedi nature reserve, regarded as one of the most beautiful in Israel, has an ancient temple at the top of a ridge overlooking the Dead Sea that we had never seen before. We're looking forward to returning, and learning more about this fascinating area.
Seen on our way to the tour bus today.
An electric tram in the early morning sun
We discovered this rather interesting building, built in 1908, the Tiferet Zion Veyerushalayim Immigrants' Shelter was founded as a hostel and seminary. The building has an unusual set of clocks and a sundial built by a self-taught astronomer and rabbi. One clock shows European time, one shows the hours from sunset. The sundial shows Jerusalem time, based on the time the sun rose from the Mount of Olives.
The clock was built on what was the highest point in the city. so that residents could view it easily. Until the clock's construction, most residents began their day by observing the sunrise and sunset.
Today, the building is still an active synagogue. On our way home today, we noticed it was filled with worshipers.
Our first view of the Dead Sea. The sea is, in fact truly dying. Thare are so many other uses for water that used to flow into it from the Jordan River, that the surface of the sea, already the lowest point on the earth, is becoming lower at a rate of over 3 feet per year. This has profound implications for the ecosystem of the area, and has caused entire communities on its shores to fall into sinkholes due to the disappearing aquifer.
Our first stop was at the Ein Geddi Nature reserve. A beautiful area, rich with history.
It has rained recently in the region and so some of the paths we walked on were still moist. Because there is little vegetation in the watershed, dangerous flash floods can occur.
An ibex, a species of mountain goat that lives in the nature reserve. Visitors are warned to watch out for rocks that may become dislodged on hills above their heads by them..
With only a bit of time before we had to return to the bus, I climbed quickly up a steep ravine, seeking a set of ruins that are part of the nature reserve.
This Chalcolithic (bronze age) building, believed to be an ancient temple, was built about 3500 BCE. The temple can be reached following a strenuous climb up from the Ein Geddi oasis, to a plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. We saw artifacts that likely came from this temple on Day 15, when we visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
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A hyrax, an animal native to Ein Geddi, resembling a marmot. A number of references to hyraxes can be found in the Old Testament.
Entrance to the Western Palace, built by King Herod in 35 BCE. During the first phase the Western Palace was built, along with three smaller palaces, a storeroom, army barracks, and a swimming pool at the south end of the site.
The Romans laid siege to Masada in 73 CE, which was held by the last Jewish rebels, the Sicarii, who apparently managed to gain control of the Roman garrison through a ruse, seven years prior, in 66 CE. Their group at Masada was augmented by other Sicarii who fled Jerusalem after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE.
The Romans overcame the fortress by building a massive siege ramp, 375 feet high, built with the help of over 15,000 soldiers and Jewish prisoners of war. The ramp, seen in this photo, was completed in only three months, after which a battering ram was used to breach the walls.
The Jewish resistance was crushed. But, rather than having their wives and children be taken as prisoners of war and what would likely be a lifetime of slavery, they set their food storerooms on fire, killed their families, and committed suicide. Only two women and five children were found alive when the Romans broke through. The rest, 960 men, women and children, died before the walls were breached.
Since then, Masada has been a symbol of resistance and and indomitable spirit. Hiking up the difficult trail to the top of Masada is for some Israeli youth, a rite of passage, and a site where soldiers pledge allegiance to the Israeli Defense Force.
Fragments of pottery bearing the names of the last nine Jewish warriors at Masada.
Archaeologists believe that the nine fragments that we saw in the museum were used to draw lots that would determine who would be very last man to fall on his sword, having killed the others as an act of mass suicide.
Ancient scroll fragment found in Masada. Many artifacts were found that have contributed towards a deeper understanding of what life in the fortress was like.
A fragment, found in Masada, of a psalm that originated in the Qumran community, believed to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
An entrance into King Herod's private quarters.
Byzantine church, built by monks who settled in Masada about 500 years after the fall of Masada, around the 5th or 6th century.
Swimming in the Dead Sea. The high salt content makes a swimmer unnaturally buoyant. The pipe splashes fresh water on swimmers emerging from the sea.
At a point that is approximately in the middle of the opposite shore on the photo above is the Israel-Jordan border.
The Incredible Hulk!
Dead sea mud is famous for its oily consistency, filled with minerals. An entire line of cosmetics have been developed form it by an Israeli company, Ahava, that markets its products around the world,
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