Site of a Roman siege, Masada symbolizes the Israeli determination to never again be driven from their territory. Military induction ceremonies are held here culminating with the oath, "Masada will never fall again!" Herod built a palace here in 43 BC as a refuge from problems from the Jews and/or Cleopatra and Mark Antony. In fact, he lived quite well here. In the First Century, the Romans invaded with 8,000 men and tradition has it that the occupying Jews commited suicide rather than surrender. Recent archeological findings and the absence of any bodies indicates that this is a myth. But, Masada has a special symbolic place in modern Jewish culture and politics.

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