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Josephus on the Romans entering Masada

set in c. 73–74 CE, Masada. His own words.

Where and when

set in c. 73–74 CEMasada

about 1,952.5 years ago

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Josephus

, MasadaHis own words

In plain words, ours

Inside they found the many dead and took no joy in it, though these were their enemies. They could only marvel at how firmly so many had faced death.

…they came within the palace, and so met with the multitude of the slain, but could take no pleasure in the fact, though it were done to their enemies. Nor could they do other than wonder at the courage of their resolution, and the immovable contempt of death which so great a number of them had shown,

Josephus, The Jewish War 7.402Translated by William Whiston (1737)Read the full passage (Josephus, The Jewish War 7.402, opens scaife.perseus.org)

What was going on, our summary

Masada, 73 or 74 CE, the end of the Jewish revolt. The Romans broke in and could not tell what had happened, until women hiding underground came out and told them: the defenders had killed one another rather than be taken. At first the Romans did not believe it.

Checked claim by claim against: Masada falls, ending the Jewish revolt, the passage around the quote.

Why it matters

Josephus is the only writer of the time to record the siege. In modern times it was retold as the Masada myth, a selective narrative based on his account, which became a national symbol in Israel's early years.

Based on Wikipedia: Siege of Masada

The siege is recorded by a single contemporary written source, The Jewish War by Josephus.

In modern times, the story of the siege was revived as the Masada myth, a selectively constructed narrative based on Josephus's account.

The mythical narrative became a national symbol in the early years of Israel's nationhood.

Wikipedia, Siege of Masada (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-25. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. set in 68 CEabout 5.5 years earlier Nero's last hours, as Suetonius tells it Also about death
  2. 69 CEabout 4.5 years earlier Four emperors in one year Same years
  3. 70 CEabout 3.5 years earlier Titus takes Jerusalem and the Temple burns Same years
  4. c. 73–74 CEDuring it Masada falls, ending the Jewish revolt The event behind itAlso in MasadaAlso about death
  5. c. 71–75 CEDuring it Josephus on the Temple spoils in Rome More from Josephus
  6. set in c. 73–74 CEThis momentJosephus on the Romans entering Masada
  7. set in c. 73–74 CEDuring it Eleazar's speech at Masada, per Josephus More from Josephus
  8. set in c. 73–74 CEDuring it Eleazar's speech at Masada, in Josephus More from Josephus

Just before and after

The text around the quote, word for word from the same translation.

Show the passageHide the passage

So they were at a loss to guess at what had happened. At length they made a shout, as if it had been at a blow given by the battering ram, to try whether they could bring any one out that was within; the women heard this noise, and came out of their under-ground cavern, and informed the Romans what had been done, as it was done; and the second of them clearly described all both what was said and what was done, and this manner of it; yet did they not easily give their attention to such a desperate undertaking, and did not believe it could be as they said; they also attempted to put the fire out, and quickly cutting themselves a way through it,

The quote: they came within the palace, and so met with the multitude of the slain, but could take no pleasure in the fact, though it were done to their enemies. Nor could they do other than wonder at the courage of their resolution, and the immovable contempt of death which so great a number of them had shown,

when they went through with such an action as that was. WHEN Masada was thus taken, the general left a garrison in the fortress to keep it, and he himself went away to Cesarea; for there were now no enemies left in the country, but it was all overthrown by so long a war.

Josephus, The Jewish War 7.402–407Translated by William Whiston (1737)Read the full passage (opens scaife.perseus.org)

When, and whose words

Date
set in c. 73–74 CE. Set at the fall of Masada, usually dated 73 or 74 CE; Josephus wrote it in the 70s CE.
Whose words
His own words.
How this post was checked
  • The plain-words line was read against the quote alone by a second, independent pass, which found it adds no claim the quote does not make (2026-10-03).
  • Each claim in the summary was checked by an independent pass against only the material it cites.
  • The quote itself is checked by the build: word for word, once, at the cited section of the stored translation.

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