Three pits discovered in one of the storerooms’ plastered floors, attest to the storage of liquids. Josephus states that when the rebels took the fortress, they found well-preserved food supplies, which he attributed to the arid conditions. Herod’s discerning taste was evident in the contents of the storerooms, which included a large number of amphorae (two-handled wine jars) bearing ink inscriptions. Among the inscriptions are those noting a shipment of amphorae to King Herod in 19 BCE from southern Italy by a supplier named Lucius Lanius. According to Josephus, Herod had a special wine servant, and among the delicacies served at Masada was a fish sauce known as garum, from southern Spain. Fish bones from this sauce were found adhering to the remains of one vessel. The king ended his banquets with apples or apple liqueur brought from Cumae in the region of Campagne, Italy, known for its high quality. Cross the storerooms and head for the Northern Palace via a flight of steps alongside of which the original stone steps can still be seen. The massive plastered wall in front of you closed off the palace from the south. From here, continue to the upper terrace of the palace.
The Northern Palace
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