"Masada (Modern Hebrew \u05DE\u05E6\u05D3\u05D4 metzad\u00E1 \"fortress\") is an ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel situated on top of an isolated rock plateau, akin to a mesa, on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. Herod the Great built palaces for himself on the mountain and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE."@en . . .