Tag Archives: Masada

Masada

Posted on June 23, 2012 | Comments Off on Masada

Just one of the places we’ll be visiting in Israel, though by far my favorite. We’ll be riding the cable car to the top of the 2,000-year-old Jewish fortress and winter palace of King Herod in southeastern Judea. But I may walk down the “snake path,” the white line on the lower right. Takes an hour or so. As for the history, some is at the link above. Much more is in this very fine book.

UPDATE:  I didn’t walk down in the heat. I enjoyed the nice descent on the Swiss cable car, instead, with the breeze through the open windows.

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Posted in Israel, Mr. Boy, Mrs. Charm

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Masada at Masada

Posted on July 31, 2011 | Comments Off on Masada at Masada

A model of the ancient Jewish fortress of Masada at, where else, Masada itself. Of course the model depicts Herod’s intact palaces at the mountain’s north end. They’re ruins today, and explained well here, and rather more completely in this good book bringing all of the archaeology up to date.

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Posted in Israel, Library

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Back to Masada

Posted on June 17, 2011 | Comments Off on Back to Masada

It helps to have been to Masada near the Dead Sea before reading this new, up-to-date summary of the old and new archaeology of the ancient Jewish fortress. But it really isn’t necessary. Sharing in the discoveries can propel a journey all by itself.

The last few pages devoted to a defense of the honor and work of the deceased Israeli warrior-archaeologist Yigael Yadin is spirited and evidentiary and fully justified by the recent slanders against him and the Masada myth.

It is odd that so few remains of the suicided Zealots were found, but it’s probable that the Roman soldiers, whom author Amnon Ben-Tor shows systematically looted the place after conquering it, simply threw the bodies over the walls.

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Posted in Israel, Science/Engineering

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Aida at Masada

Posted on May 29, 2011 | Comments Off on Aida at Masada

I was picturing my favorite Verdi classical opera, the tragic love story of an Ethiopian princess and an Egyptian army officer, on the largely barren crest of the 2,000-year-old Jewish fortress of Masada.

Alas, it seems it will be “at the footsteps” of Masada in June, apparently on the west side, “with the majestic mountain as a backdrop” not far from the Dead Sea. Well, a few miles from it, actually, though in the stark landscape out there it doesn’t seem that far away.

Now that I think of it, it would be a bear trying to get all those sets and stuff, not to mention the musicians, the dancers, the extras, and the cast, up on the top with only two cable cars. Asking them to use the long, winding “snake path” would be out of the question. Then, there’s the audience, going and coming. Couldn’t work, obviously. Pity.

It’s still impressive, the Israeli Opera doing such a thing out there. Wonder what the ghosts will make of it all?

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Posted in Israel, Music, Scribbles

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