The Contoversy of Masada

Masada is a highly emotional topic and not without a controversy surrounding events that took place during the siege of the fortress, at the end of first Jewish rebellion. The only source of information about the mass suicide committed by the Jewish fighters comes from Josephus - Jewish historian who defected to the Roman side. But, can we really trust in his account of events? Some scholars question whether the mass suicide at Masada ever took place.

To find out more what might have happened at Masada, one must watch presentation given by Dr. Jodi Magness from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: 'Masada: Last Stronghold of the Jewish Resistance against Rome', given at the Pen Museum.

Dr. Jodi Magness and her team of archaeologist where the only scholars in last 30+ years to excavate the site. What they found and the implications to the story of the siege is revolting to say the least.

On a personal note: when researching the subject of Masada, I was struck by the link between events from 2000 years ago and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. A poem about the struggle that took place during siege of Masada was used in a song of the Jewish fighters in Warsaw Ghetto. Tragically the fighters of the last point of the resistance during Warsaw Ghetto Uprising at Miła 18 bunker ended up committing mass suicide instead of surrendering. You can learn more by watching klik2travel video 'Anielewicz Mound':

Sources used in Masada video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzCD3LeQqKg

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.html

http://www.masada.org.il/en

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Masada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Jewish–Roman_War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephus