The Masada Museum in Masada National Park

It was only a matter of time until someone realizes that one of the most toured sites in Israel needs a museum for the better preservation of its heritage. And thus, a few years ago, at the feet of this fascinating mountain a no less fascinating museum has opened. The museum, named after Yigael Yadin (an Israeli archeologist, politician, and the second Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces), includes hundreds of archeological finds from the mountain and its close vicinity. Most fascinating are a rebels’ Jewish prayer shawl from the time of the Second Temple, a preserved braid of hair and 12 pieces of clay with different names written on them, supposed by some to signify the rebels’ method of deciding who will be responsible for whose death and who will be the last standing to take his own life, as a part of the rebels’ plan to commit mass suicide rather than fall into Roman captivity after the rebels’ Great Revolt against the Romans has failed. The exhibits are presented according to the various periods they belong to and the presentation style is theatrical and suits also children who like history and archeology.