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“When I sit, you sit. When I kneel, you kneel. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera”
King of Siam from the movie, “The King and I”
Wat Phra Mahathat is perhaps the most visited temple in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand. Located across the road from Wat Ratburana which I featured in my last post , it is swarming with day trippers who come by the busloads from Bangkok (about a two hour trip by bus or train).
Besides the eeriness of headless Buddha statues (compliments of the Burmese army who ransacked the temple) there nothing much to see at the temple, except for a lone head of Buddha.
The touristic highlight of Wat Phra Mahathat is a famous tree that has engulfed a Buddha head. Like the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, every cell phone camera, DSLR, compact camera, Polaroid, et cetera is snapping away at this solitary Buddha head.
A guard is present at the tree to remind visitors that when they pose for a photo they must not be higher that the Buddha itself. They must kneel to show respect since Buddha is considered very holy by the Thais.
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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UPDATE: December 22, 2012 (10:31 Eastern Standard Time in the United States) - The Mayas love a good joke. Cheerio then all, thanks for reading. Until the next Apocalypse.
UPDATE: December 21, 2012 (3:49 Eastern Standard Time in the United States) - The world has not come to an end...for now.
Are you ready for the December 21, 2012, apocalypse when the Maya's "Long Count" calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era?
Chichén Itzá, located in the Yucatan of Mexico, is the apex of Maya archaeological sites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The Kukulkan Pyramid (also called “El Castillo”) is the architectural highlight of the ruins. This structure is famous for having various Maya calendar cycles represented in the number of steps, platforms, sides, and levels, all of which are aligned with the equinox sun, such that on those days only, a serpent-shaped shadow descends the steps. The pyramid has four stairways, each with 91 steps and a platform at the top, making a total of 365, equivalent to the number of days in a calendar year.
When I was in Chichén Itzá last month I had the opportunity to talk with the local Maya people to asked them if the world was really going to end on December 21, 2012. They all responded with a laugh and said no.
When I mentioned to one gentleman that my birthday coincided with the end of the Maya Long Count calendar he looked at me sternly and said, “You’ll be one year older, so my friend you’ll be fatter, slower and gray hairs will appear on your head. Your world will be ending, but not the Mayans!”
To all my Flickr friends may we all live to see December 22, 2012!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
With very few tourists groups at the pyramids, it was possible to get shots that are often impossible. And of course the camels will always pose!
Via Sacra was the main street of Roman Forum of the ancient empire, that lead to the Colosseum through some of the most important religious sites. You can picture the liveliness of good old days.
Even though what you see here in these ruins today is nothing but skeletons of ancient structures, you can sense the grandeur of the center of the empire and you are awed by the engineering of architectures that used mainly stones.
Uçhisar is by far the most conspicuous feature of the Cappadocian landscape. The castle is a solid chunk of rock with a thinner offshoot; from a distance the two parts resemble a giant snail dragging its shell across the landscape. In the past, families hollowed caves out of the rock and used them as retreats whenever enemies appeared; in more peaceful times those same caves provided homes for the locals, so that Uçhisar Kalesi functioned rather like a natural tenement block stuffed full of apartments.
In the 1950s the authorities moved residents out of the castle and into modern afet evleri (disaster houses) for fear of a landslide. They were only just in time -- in the 1960s a serious rock fall caused the collapse of the Ağa'nın Konağı (the Lord's Mansion), a palatial home that had been created inside it.
Downloadable @ Istvan Kadar Photography
The Obelisk Tomb, which was carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century CE. Above the tomb are four pyramids (‘nafesh’) as well as a niche with a statue in bas-relief that is a symbolic representation of the five people buried there.
The facade of the structure known as the Obelisk Tomb, built as funerary symbols by the Nabataeans in the 1st century BCE. The Obelisk Tomb and Bab as-Siq Triclinium are directly across from the Djinn Blocks. The Obelisk Tomb was probably built under an Egyptian influence. The façade of the Obelisk Tomb measures 15.98 m in width and 12.3 m in height.
Lower Facade
The lower part of the tomb facade, known as the Bab al-Siq Triclinium. The facade of the lower story includes elements from Greco-Roman architecture as well. In fact, it was built on top of a much earlier structure, with a Doric columned facade.
Triclinium Interior
The bottom story, decorated in a more classical style contains a traditional dining hall for Nabataean funnery rites. In other tombs of the area this feature is substituted with a forerunning dining hall. It is lined by three benches for visitors that included relatives and friends of the deceased, for holding annual banquets in honour of the dead. This part of the building is known as a triclinium (dining room), and is one of several in Petra.
Upper Facade
The five obelisks (inspect), definitely nefesh, together with the eroded human figure in the centre, probably represent the five people buried in the tomb.
"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie." - Agnes de Mille
Welcome to the Kingdom of Cambodia!
After two months in Vietnam it was time to say goodbye. Departing from Hanoi I flew into Saigon and then connected onward to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway town to Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world.
Siem Reap is both the tourist and transportation hub of Cambodia. Contrasted against the historical ruins of Angkor Wat (about three kilometers south of the temples), it is a modern town with many western amenities.
“Pub Alley” is the main street in Siem Reap that features Western style restaurants and bars. Every evening the Temple Bar features an Apsara dance show where I photographed this performer. It was very difficult to photograph the show due to the poor lighting.
Apsara dance is the traditional Cambodian dance that was practiced in the royal palaces. This traditional dance almost went extinct during the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer dance is characterized by intricate finger and body movements (i.e. flexibility) which usually convey a story or message.
Even though Thailand markets itself as “The Land of Smiles,” I would have to say Cambodia embodies that slogan. Everywhere I went I was always welcomed with a warm smile and gracious hospitality, taking into account the country’s tragic history, I found this truly amazing.
Join me on my photo tour of Cambodia!
Check back for more of my adventures in Cambodia! More photos in the comment section.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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Curiosity took the individual images for this panorama on Sol or Mission day 1688 using its left mast camera.
Explore this 970 MegaPixel image on Gigamacro:
viewer.gigamacro.com/view/XxjgYfbSFjEeBOxA?x1=32509.50&am...
I thought I had posted this photo here on Flickr.
I lost track since I am involved in a million social media sites like Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest....
I think I am losing touch with reality since my life has been enveloped by social media.
Just the other day I received the biggest shock of my life, my Apple iPhone rang! Nowadays, everybody uses their smartphones for everything but talking on the phone. It was a good friend of mine who wanted to know if we could meet for lunch. I scolded him for calling me on my phone and told him to leave a message for me over at Facebook.
I think I need to take another trip to have some real human contact.
=================
Palenque, along with Chichen Itza and Uxmal, ranks as one of the most magnificent example of Maya architecture in Mexico. Located in the tropical jungle of Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico, Palenque is the type of playground befitting Indiana Jones. The dense jungle covering these hills forms an evocative backdrop to the exquisite Maya architecture.
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
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THE BURREN, IRELAND -- Dolman at Poulnabrone, in the Burren of Ireland. When built this grave was covered with soil and the surrounding hills were covered with trees, where today there are only stones. The Burren is one of the most dramatic locations of soil loss in the world.
Strobist info: Three SB800s, two hidden to the right and left, one hidden on the ground beyond the dolmen, shooting back toward the camera.
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Egypt - Cairo - القاهرة - al-Qāhira - Great Pyramids of Giza - UNESCO World Heritage Site - Famous last remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The pyramids of Giza are perhaps the only true rival to the Great Sphinx when one thinks of ancient Egypt and its architecture. The Valley of Giza -- with its wonderful monuments -- is truly a marvel of architectural prowess. The three largest pyramids located in the valley consist of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Kafhre and the Pyramid of Menkaura. The Great Pyramid of Giza enjoys special status among the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". None of the others have survived into the modern era. The construction, date, and possible symbolism of the Giza pyramids are still not entirely understood. This mystery only adds to the attractiveness of these ancient wonders and many modern people still regard Giza as a spiritual place. A number of fascinating theories have been offered to explain the "mystery of the pyramids".
Camera Model: PENTAX K20D, Photo Focal length: 10.00 mm, Aperture: 6.7, Exposure time: 1/180 s, ISO: 100
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova - www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
A dark tunnel frames a view of lush greenery outside, creating a striking contrast between shadow and light. The ancient Mayan narrow passageway opens onto a path lined with leaves leading to the vibrant plants beyond. The play of light draws attention to the inviting natural scene at the tunnel's end.
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Egypt - Cairo - القاهرة - al-Qāhira - Great Pyramids of Giza - UNESCO World Heritage Site - Famous last remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The pyramids of Giza are perhaps the only true rival to the Great Sphinx when one thinks of ancient Egypt and its architecture. The Valley of Giza -- with its wonderful monuments -- is truly a marvel of architectural prowess. The three largest pyramids located in the valley consist of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Kafhre and the Pyramid of Menkaura.
The Great Pyramid of Giza enjoys special status among the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". None of the others have survived into the modern era. The construction, date, and possible symbolism of the Giza pyramids are still not entirely understood. This mystery only adds to the attractiveness of these ancient wonders and many modern people still regard Giza as a spiritual place. A number of fascinating theories have been offered to explain the "mystery of the pyramids".
Everytime I visit such a famous place like pyramids of Giza, I'm faced with a challenge that this place was photographed probably a trillion times and it is nearly impossible to come with something original. The day I visitted Giza valley rewarded me with some wonderful sky with clouds that created nice shadows passing over pyramids.
Camera Model: PENTAX K20D; ; Focal length: 14.00 mm; Aperture: 8.0; Exposure time: 1/180 s; ISO: 100
All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova - www.luciedebelkova.com
All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.
You can view more of my Southeast Asia Travel Highlights here
***This photo is on sale via Getty Images***
Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
Evidence suggests Borobudur was abandoned following the fourteenth century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Java, and the Javanese conversion to Islam.
Worldwide knowledge of its existence was sparked in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the then British ruler of Java, who was advised of its location by native Indonesians. Borobudur has since been preserved through several restorations.
The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, following which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Borobudur is still used for pilgrimage; once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction.
Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur
Basalt columns 4.5m / 15ft height on top of 'Pyramid B'' located 75km north of Mexico City.
Tula reached its height between 900 - 1150 AD with approx 60,000 inhabitants.
A close-up view of an ancient stone wall showcases its rugged, weathered surface with small patches of moss. The blurred background emphasizes the rich textures and details of the stonework in the foreground.
According to a recent Flickr poll, yours truly was voted the top travel photographer of 2012. How did I achieve such excellence? Perhaps it was due to my creativity, my intuitive vision or maybe because I shoot with cool Canon gear.
Or it could be that I travel to places most people have never heard of.
Take for example Angkor Wat. Located in the exotic country of Cambodia, I played Indiana Jones for a day as my local Cambodian guide and I trudged through the steamy jungle for over three hours to find this magnificent Khmer temple.
So there we were in complete solitude admiring this magnificent structure. I put my Canon gear through the paces as I quickly realized I was one of the few photographers in the world to captured this amazing place. It was time of spiritual joy, aesthetic pleasure, and deep contemplation.
I was in photography nirvana.
That was the Angkor Wat of my travel dreams.
This is the Angkor Wat of travel reality.
I photographed Angkor Wat at sunrise over a period of two days and both were a bust. This was taken on my second attempt and it was just a tad better than the first which isn’t saying much. I was there in May which happens to be the hottest part of the year. It was hot, brutally hot. The weather was terrible and the light was flat. With no decent clouds in the sky, I didn’t get the trophy shot of Angkor Wat at sunrise with the stunning morning light reflected off the clouds and a perfect reflection in the pond.
Instead I shared my early mornings with throngs of tourists all aiming to get the same photograph that a million photographers have captured before. Through it all I endured sharps elbows to my lower back as people jockeyed for position, sand flies in my face, the brutal heat with a slap of humidity and the constant harassment from the vendors demanding I have breakfast at their “five-star” outdoor dining establishment.
So this was my view of Angkor Wat...tourists wandering around in the frame, an ugly scaffolding that begged to be torn down and pathetic clouds with a hint of some morning light coming from behind the temple.
Thanks to Apple Aperture I was able to bring back to life the beauty and splendor of the heart and soul of the Khmer Empire - Angkor Wat Temple.
P.S. I really was awarded Flickr’s top travel photographer of 2012. The polling just happened to be skewed in my favor. I was the only one polled and I voted early and often! Hmm? Sounds like the 2012 American presidential election?!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
These two huts are reconstructions of Neolithic houses. Their shape is based on excavations of Neolithic houses at Durrington Walls dating back to 2500BC. They are made from thin hazel rods woven around upright posts. The woven structure is then covered, inside and out, with a mixture of crushed chalk, chopped straw and water. This is called chalk daub. Their roofs have been thatched with straw from wheat. There are 5 houses in total, outside the Visitor Centre at Stonehenge.
This amphitheater was built over 1900 years ago to entertain 60,000 spectators with bloody battles. I used 5 exposures to create this panoramic image.
One would never know it when passing through but on the left of this bike path and image was an ancient mound village of the Mississippian Culture, the Rowlandton Mound Site (5MCN3) of roughly 1100 to 1350 A.D. There was a large platform mound here. Right now, this ground looks like a manicured piece of suburban sprawl. However, this native town is estimated to be roughly equal in dimensions to Kentucky's sizeable Wickliffe Mounds archeological site further west on the Mississippi River, which site is a major state historical park.
Paducah, Kentucky likes to claim and celebrate the Kincaid Mounds of the Mississippian Culture, which is a considerable drive on the north side of the Ohio River in the state of Illinois. Kincaid is indeed an impressive Illinois site. However, Paducah has an actual Mississippian Culture center in its own front yard, right here in Kentucky, the Rowlandton Mound archeological site. See it?
This structure was built by Emperor Domitian to honor his brother Titus in AD 81.The arch became models of many triumphal arches including Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
One usually sees pictures of the pyramids, with nothing else in the area. The truth is that those are hard to capture as there is always a lot of activity.
A huge number of tourists, the tourist police, the horses and camels and their riders and the horse buggies are circling the area. That is just what the scene is. I have some clean shots of the great wonders, but I also like the local color shots too. Here the camels are resting with their green plant food in front of them.
土耳其－爱琴海地区－Denizli省－棉花堡－罗马大剧院
High angle view of the Roman Theater at Hierapolis (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπολις, lit. "Holy City"), a ruined ancient city adjecent to Pamukkale, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Denizli province, Aegean region of Turkey.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
There are a cast of characters who make the pyramids their home during the day when the site is open. They offer buggy rides, camel rides, horse rides and pose for pictures. This is a candid shot and I will show you many more because the folks who congregate by the pyramids are as interesting as the huge structures to me. This man on his camel seems to be admiring one of the pyramids just like I was.
History of Santa Francesca Romana in Roman Forum goes back to 8th century. The facade was designed by Carlo Lambardi in 1615.
LEÓN (Espanha): Plaza Mayor.
A Plaza Mayor de León está localizada no centro histórico de León e está incluída no típico bairro ‘Húmedo’, localizado perto da Catedral. É possível acessá-la por várias ruas: Plegaria, Mariano Berrueta, Escalerilla, Santa Cruz, Matasiete, Ramiro III, Bermudo III e, finalmente, pela escada de degraus estreitos e íngremes que levam à Plaza Puerta Sol, com um profundo desnível entre as duas áreas.
Nesta praça, encontramos edifícios como o Mirador ou Casa da Câmara, que se destaca pela sua arquitetura barroca, com duas torres retangulares com pináculos. Atualmente, este edifício é sede da Oficina Municipal de Artes Plásticas e também da Junta de Irmandades da Semana Santa, muito famosa nesta cidade. Também encontramos nesta praça locais de entretenimento e um hotel.
A Plaza Mayor foi o grande centro comercial da cidade durante o período da Idade Média até ao século XIX, realizando-se um mercado duas vezes por semana, com a existência de todo tipo de lojas em suas arcadas, com destaque para o setor alimentar, mas também produtos ervanários, lojas de ferragens, talheres, artesanato etc. Hoje, o mercado na praça continua a existir, ocorrendo todas as quartas e sábados.
É a sexta Plaza Mayor mais antiga de toda a Espanha. Serviu para touradas, houve execuções e celebrações públicas durante a corte isabelina; foi também nesta praça onde os leoneses se reuniram para gritar a guerra contra a ocupação francesa de 1810. Hoje é uma área muito frequentada durante as festas padroeiras de San Juan e San Froilán, também durante os carnavais e a Páscoa, já que a maioria das procissões passa por esta praça popular em León.
info: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_Mayor_de_Le%C3%B3n
(Tradução: Google tradutor)
Nubia/Egypt 2019 (The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel. They are situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari, and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.
*The temple of Hathor and Nefertari was dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II's chief consort, Nefertari. The rock-cut facade is decorated with two groups of colossi that are separated by the large gateway. The statues, slightly more than ten metres high, are of the king and his queen. On either side of the portal are two statues of the king, wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt (south colossus) and the double crown (north colossus); these are flanked by statues of the queen.
Ramesses went to Abu Simbel with his wife in the 24th year of his reign. As the Great Temple of the king, there are small statues of princes and princesses next to their parents. In this case they are positioned symmetrically...)
Copyright © 2019 by inigolai/Photography.
No part of this picture may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means , on websites, blogs, without prior permission.
Fog over the ruins of a mayan temple at the Copan Archaeological Park in Honduras. / Brume au-dessus des ruines d'un temple maya dans le parc archéologique de Copan au Honduras.
Basilica Aemilia is located at one of the entrances of Roman Forum. Built in 179 B.C., this place was a meeting hall for business and money exchange.
By handing over this stone carved more than 17,000 years ago, one can see the delicacy, extreme precision and technological feat of Puma Punku. The spheres, after tens of thousands of years, are absolutely perfect. It's unbelievable.
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Puma Punku was a large earthen platform mound with three levels of stone retaining walls. Its layout is thought to have resembled a square. To sustain the weight of these massive structures, Tiwanaku architects were meticulous in creating foundations, often fitting stones directly to bedrock or digging precise trenches and carefully filling them with layered sedimentary stones to support large stone blocks. Modern day engineers argue that the base of the Pumapunku temple was constructed using a technique called layering and depositing. By alternating layers of sand from the interior and layers of composite from the exterior, the fills would overlap each other at the joints, essentially grading the contact points to create a sturdy base.
Notable features at Pumapunku are I-shaped architectural cramps, which are composed of a unique copper-arsenic-nickel bronze alloy. These I-shaped cramps were also used on a section of canal found at the base of the Akapana pyramid at Tiwanaku. These cramps were used to hold the blocks comprising the walls and bottom of stone-lined canals that drain sunken courts. I-cramps of unknown composition were used to hold together the massive slabs that formed Pumapunku's four large platforms. In the south canal of the Pumapunku, the I-shaped cramps were cast in place. In sharp contrast, the cramps used at the Akapana canal were fashioned by the cold hammering of copper-arsenic-nickel bronze ingots. The unique copper-arsenic-nickel bronze alloy is also found in metal artifacts within the region between Tiwanaku and San Pedro de Atacama during the late Middle Horizon around 600–900.
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The pithos is a large earthenware vessel that was often used for storing wine, oil or food in ancient times. This pithos can be found in the National Museum of Tbilisi and dates back to the 3rd century BC. With a volume of 1,500 liters, it is decorated with scenes of a deer hunt, depicted with animals and birds in red ochre on a glazed and polished surface. These hunting scenes, emphasize the role of hunting in Georgian culture. Georgia is often considered the birthplace of wine, with a winemaking tradition dating back over 8,000 years. The country has a unique terroir and uses the traditional Qvevri method of winemaking, producing a rich variety of wines. The Qvevri method is a traditional Georgian technique of winemaking, in which the wine is fermented and stored in large, egg-shaped earthenware vessels called qvevri. These vessels are usually buried in the ground to regulate the temperature. The process involves the use of grapes with skins and stalks, resulting in wines with full flavors and complex aromas. This method has a history of over 8,000 years and is considered an important part of Georgian culture and winemaking tradition.
The pithos on display at the National Museum of Tbilisi dates back to the 3rd century BC and has a volume of 1,500 liters. Discovered in Samadlo, Mtskheta, this large ceramic vessel features scenes of deer hunts, depicted with animals and birds painted in red ochre on its polished surface. It exemplifies the ancient Georgian tradition of pottery and the significance of these vessels in daily life and agricultural practices, particularly in wine production.
De pithos is een groot aardewerk vat dat vaak werd gebruikt voor het opslaan van wijn, olie of voedsel in de oudheid. Deze pithos is te vinden in het Nationaal Museum van Tbilisi en dateert uit de 3e eeuw voor Christus. Met een volume van 1.500 liter is het versierd met scènes van een hertenjacht, afgebeeld met dieren en vogels in rode oker op een geglazuurde en gepolijste oppervlakte. Deze jachtscènes, benadrukken de rol van jagen in de Georgische cultuur. Georgië wordt vaak beschouwd als de geboorteplaats van de wijn, met een wijntraditie die meer dan 8.000 jaar oud is. Het land heeft een unieke terroir en maakt gebruik van de traditionele Qvevri-methode voor wijnbereiding, waardoor het een rijke variëteit aan wijnen produceert. De Qvevri-methode is een traditionele Georgische techniek voor het maken van wijn, waarbij de wijn wordt gefermenteerd en opgeslagen in grote, ei-vormige aardewerken vaten genaamd qvevri. Deze vaten worden meestal ingegraven in de grond om de temperatuur te reguleren. Het proces omvat het gebruik van druiven met schil en steeltjes, wat resulteert in wijnen met een volle smaak en complexe aroma's. Deze methode heeft een geschiedenis van meer dan 8.000 jaar en wordt beschouwd als een belangrijk onderdeel van de Georgische cultuur en wijnbouwtraditie.
The site of Palmyra is an oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus, it contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, Palmyra mixed Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences, it was listed UNESCO World Heritage in 1980
© Eric Lafforgue
Masada (“fortress” in Hebrew) is a mountain complex in Israel in the Judean desert that overlooks the Dead Sea. It is famous for the last stand of the Zealots (and Sicarii) in the Jewish Revolt against Rome (66-73 CE). Masada is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Israel.
The last occupation at Masada was a Byzantine monastery, and then the site was largely forgotten due to its remoteness and harsh environment (especially in the summer months). The site was superficially explored in 1838 CE by the American archaeologists Edward Robinson and Eli Smith. Then, between 1963 and 1965 CE, Yigael Yadin, who was both an Israeli military commander as well as an archaeologist, organized the first major excavations with volunteers from around the world.
The source for the history of Masada is Flavius Josephus (36-100 CE), who wrote about the origins of the fortress under the Hasmoneans and the renovations of the site under Herod the Great (37-4 BCE). As an eyewitness to the events of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 CE), he wrote The Jewish War with the last chapter relating events at Masada in 73-74 CE. Josephus described the decision to commit mass suicide at the fortress (960 men, women, and children). However, because he was not an eyewitness to the events, modern debate continues in relation to the historical basis of his story.