From this point, continue to the western entrance courtyard, which was a central junction on the plateau. Visitors ascending from the west would enter Masada from this direction via the water gate 9 . There is an excellent view from the roof of the bathhouse, to the south of which is a view of the unexcavated portion of the storerooms. Its walls lie prone, the result of an earthquake, which apparently took place in 364 CE and caused most of the destruction at Masada. The water gate 9 – A trail from the upper cisterns hewn in the northwestern slope led to this gate, situated in the northern part of an open courtyard. A plastered aqueduct channeled the water from the gate to cisterns on the mountaintop. Cross the open court to the administration building 10 – The location of the administration building near the storerooms demonstrates its probable use by Herod’s clerks. During the revolt, a number of rebel families lived in the building, constructing a ritual bath in the corner of its central courtyard. After the conquest of Masada, soldiers of the Roman garrison lived here briefly. Retrace your steps and turn left toward the guardroom, whose walls, along which benches were installed and decorated with stucco. The path skirts a water cistern and an ancient storage cave where the remains of dozens of Herodian-era storage vessels were found. At the end of the wooden walkway is the Northern Palace observation point 11 , containing an interactive model demonstrating Masada’s water system. This point affords a view of the Northern Palace, the water system and the trails up the mountain, as well as three Roman siege camps and the siege wall. Looking north, you can see Wadi Ze’elim and En Gedi.
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