Masada is an ancient fortress that is located near the Israeli city of Arad, on the southern coast of the Dead sea. Atop one of the cliffs of the Judean desert, rising to 450 meters above the Dead sea, in 25 BCE, king Herod the Great built a shelter for himself and his family, significantly strengthening and straighten the existing fortress Hasmonean period.

From all sides the Massad is surrounded by steep rocks. Only from the sea up is narrow, so-called "snake path". This path is still possible to climb to the fortress. However, now there is another way for tourists cableway.

The top of the rock is crowned by a nearly flat trapezoidal plateau, the size of which is approximately 600 by 300 meters. The plateau is surrounded by strong walls with a total length of 1,400 meters and a thickness of about 4 meters, which is arranged 37 towers. There were built and still preserved, though in ruins, palaces, synagogue, weapons stockpiles, pits for collection and storage of rainwater and other ancillary buildings. The fortress was also used for the storage of Royal gold.