Masada-the mount of legends. It was on the top of this cliff rising over 1500 ft , 960 Jewish men, women and children defended the might of 10,000 Roman soldiers under Flavius Silva, for three years (70-73 AD). According to Josephus, the 1st Cent. historian, the defenders decided to kill themselves rather than submit to capture and enslavement under Romans. The mass suicide occurred on the 15th day of Hebrew month Nisan in A.D. 73, the night before the Roman Tenth Legion took Masada.