Atlas of Battles

siege, notable, ancient

Siege of Masada

Siege of Masada was a siege conducted in AD 72 at Masada, in what is now Israel; it ran into the following year. It was part of First Jewish-Roman War, which ran from AD 66 to AD 74. The recorded result: Roman victory. Recorded strength: 967, including non-combatants against Legio X Fretensis 4,800; Auxiliaries and slaves 4,000–10,000.

See it on the globe Read the article

A surprising Roman terrace at the siege of Masada, continued and extended to the foot of the fortress wall. The small terrace rises above the large one, with its timber-framed tower erected on top.
A surprising Roman terrace at the siege of Masada, continued and extended to the foot of the fortress wall. The small terrace rises above the large one, with its timber-framed tower erected on top.. Matthijs Pool, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtAD 72ran into the following year
WhereMasada, Israel31.316N, 35.354E
OutcomeRoman victory
BelligerentsJewish SicariiagainstRoman Empire
Casualties and losses960 dead, 7 captured (2 women, 5 children), according to JosephusandUnknown
Part ofFirst Jewish-Roman WarAD 66 to AD 74

Where it sits in First Jewish-Roman War

Battle of Beth Horon, AD 66Battle of Jerusalem, AD 66Battle of Gabaon, AD 66Siege of Ascalon, AD 67Battle of Joppa, AD 67Siege of Gush Halav, AD 67pillage of Ein Gedi, AD 67Siege of Gabara, AD 67Galilee campaign, AD 67Battle of Mount Gerizim, AD 67Siege of Japha, AD 67Siege of Yodfat, AD 67Siege of Gamala, AD 67Battle of Mount Tabor, AD 67Capture of Tarichaea, AD 68Zealot Temple Siege, AD 68Battle of Bethennabris, AD 68Battle of the Jordan River, AD 68Siege of Jerusalem, AD 70Siege of Machaerus, AD 71Siege of Masada, AD 72AD 66AD 72Siege of Masada, AD 72
21 placed engagements of First Jewish-Roman War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateAD 72 (year precision)
to AD 73
PlaceMasada, Israel
31.316N, 35.354E
KindSiege, ancient
Strength967, including non-combatantsLegio X Fretensis 4,800; Auxiliaries and slaves 4,000–10,000
Casualties and losses960 dead, 7 captured (2 women, 5 children), according to JosephusUnknown
Commanders
  • Eleazar ben Ya'ir
  • Lucius Flavius Silva
Siege of MasadaSiege of MasadaSamu IncidentSiege of Al-KarakSiege of KerakSiege of MachaerusBattle of Beth ZurSamu IncidentSiege of Al-KarakSiege of MachaerusBattle of Beth ZurTel AvivAmmanJerusalemNablusEl ArishAz ZarqaBeer ShevaRamla100 km31.316N, 35.354E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 72

Siege of Masada is one of 63 engagements of the 1st century in the atlas and one of 179 in present-day Israel.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q3555020, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Masada, revision 1383981204, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.