Masada is in Israel. The ancient fortress stands on an isolated plateau above the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea.
Herod the Great developed Masada into a fortified palace complex between 37 and 31 BCE. The site included palaces, storehouses, bathhouses, cisterns, and defensive walls, making it both a royal retreat and a stronghold.
Masada later became associated with Jewish rebels during the First Jewish–Roman War. Roman forces besieged the plateau and built a siege ramp, whose remains are still visible. The details of the final events come mainly from the historian Josephus and are discussed by modern scholars.
Masada is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Israel’s best-known archaeological landmarks. Its location above the Dead Sea distinguishes it from Petra, which is farther southeast in Jordan.