MASADA. Herod's Fortress And the Zealots' Last Stand. The Momentous Archaeological Discovery Revealing The Heroic Life And Struggle Of The Jewish Zealots.

Yadin, Yigael

Published by NY.1966.Random House, 1966

About this Item

offwhite, blue & black full cloth hardbound 4to. dustwrapper in protective plastic. fine cond. nice clean copy. covers clean. binding tight. contents free of markings. dustwrapper in fine cond., bit of rubbing at spine top, not torn or price clipped . book club edition. first printing (nap). ('First Published in London By Weidenfeld & Nicholson"). 96 illustrations in full color (many full page) and about 116 black & white, including 20 maps and plans. biblio. index. ancient history. archaeology. religion. art history. israelite history. old testament. roman empire. ancient rome. ancient israel. jewish revolt. destruction of the temple. antiquities. biblical studies. ancient religion.~ The excavation from 1963 to 1965 of the Judean desert rock~fortress of Masada has taken its place as one of the most exciting and significant archaeological events of recent times. What prompted thousands of volunteers from so many different countries to endure the hardships and primitive conditions of the expedition? This stronghold overlooking the Dead Sea was the site on which Herod the Great erected some of his most daring buildings and also the scene of one of the most dramatic episodes in human history, when nine hundred and sixty Zealot defenders preferred to kill themselves rather than surrender to the Romans three years after the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D. The only source of its history is the contemporary account by Josephus, who was one of the commanders in that very great revolt against Rome. Professor Yigael Yadin, the distinguished military leader and archaeologist, was invited to head the expedition, which found much evidence to confirm Josephus' descriptions, and in this dramatic account he describes the history of Masada in the first century A.D., the fascinating early attempts at its rediscovery by nineteenth~ and twentieth~century explorers, and the full story of the biggest archaeological enterprise ever attempted in the Holy Land. His description of the campaigns and the treasures that were found is illustrated with more than two hundred photographs, half of them in full color. Among the many spectacular discoveries were: Herod's three~tiered palace villa~its rooms adorned with wall paintings and simple mosaic floors; Herod's ceremonial palace with its multicolored mosaics; the biggest collections of Jewish and Roman coins of the first century A.D. found in one excavation. Seller Inventory # 606083

Bibliographic Details

Title: MASADA. Herod's Fortress And the Zealots' ...

Publisher: NY.1966.Random House

Publication Date: 1966

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included