Herod built Masada on a summit that sits 190 feet above sea level and about 1500 feet above the level of the Dead Sea. The mountain itself is 1950 feet long,
650 feet wide, 4250 feet in circumference, and encompasses 23 acres.
The Judean Desert lies on one side of Masada and the Dead Sea lies on the other side. Despite the lack of
a permanent water supply, Masada could sustain a community because Masada created a natural defense system because the city is situated on a nearly flat rock.
There is no mention
of Masada in the Bible. The only writings that exist on Masada were written by Josephus.
