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| In about 20 AD, Herod the Great of Jerusalem was not liked by his
Jewish subjects. He built a summer retreat (fortress) on top of this mountain to protect himself from his people. It is not proven that he ever lived here. - - - In 70 AD, when the Romans raided Jerusalem, burned the city and threw out all of the Jews. About 1,000 Jews fled to this fortress with provisions to live for a long time. 15,000 Romans came after them, could not break down the walls and put them under seige for 3 years. When they finally broke through the walls, they found 970 people has committed mass suicide rather than be taken as slaves. There were 5 children and 2 women that survived. |
