The southern water cistern 28 – The huge investment and knowhow that went into the construction of Masada’s water cisterns are exemplified here. A flight of 64 stairs leads into this great cistern, whose walls were covered with many layers of plaster. On the wall to the left of the stairs is an inscription mentioning a youth group that was here in 1941. The cistern is fed from a plastered aqueduct that reached it from the north. The large quantity of water made possible cultivation of the area north and west of the cistern. Evidence has recently been found of a vineyard from the reign of King Herod. The southern casemate wall and southern gate 31 – Turn left to a portion of the casemate wall that includes a gateway paved with stone that led to a large water cistern and to caves in the southern cliff. Adjacent to it is a tower and an original casemate containing a ritual bath 32 , storage facilities for grain, and stoves. The roof of the tower reveals another breathtaking view of Wadi Masada, the Dead Sea, and the mountains of Moab. Continue walking north and you’ll arrive at a number of simple dwellings built by the rebels – “the tenements” 21 and the modern route leading to the Snake Path gate 1 .
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