THE ROMAN ARMY CAMP

Outline of the Roman camp at Masada

Masada was the last remaining rebel fortress in Palestine, and the Romans threw their best resources into capturing it.

It held out for almost two years, but was eventually captured on 16th April, 73AD, after a siege in which the courage of its defenders was matched by the deadly resolve of the Romans.

The image above shows the outline of the Roman army camp - the air in this remote region is so dry that even now the outline is clearly visible. From the size of the camp, historians can deduce the numbers of the besieging force, estimated at ten thousand men.

The camp followed the layout of a typical Roman encampment. It was divided into two areas by a central street, called the via principalis. At each end of this road were two gates, the porta principalis dextra and the porta principalis sinestra. Facing the enemy was the porta praetoria, and at the rear was the porta decuamana.  

Quarters for the soldiers occupied about two-thirds of the area; in the other one-third stood the tents of the general, the quaestor and the tribunes, as well as open space for a forum.

There was also a subsidiary camp containing an infirmary, a blacksmith's forge, and a farriery for horses.