semester paper

Essay by puresnowteaCollege, Undergraduate October 2014

download word file, 8 pages 0.0

Introduction

'Masada shall not fall again', Israeli soldiers took an oath there. Masada, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered as a modern symbol of Jewish survival.

What is 'heritage'? Heritage is a gift from the past to the future. The human's legacy from the past, what people live with today and what people pass on to future generation. (UNESCO, 2005) World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. World Heritage Committee is responsible in determining the site to be presented and protected, that is to say, it has the final say on whether a site is inscribed on the World Heritage List. United National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) was founded in 1945 by 37 countries, aiming to promote peace and security to create universal respect for justice, for human rights and freedom of all people without distinction of race, sex or language.

There are 936 World Heritage Sites listed currently, containing 725 cultural, 183 natural and 28 mixed properties. (Wikipedia, 2012)

Masada which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 is located in the Southern District of Israel, on the top of a rock horst, on the casern edge of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea.(refer to Appendix 1) The beauty of Masada is of a majestic order. The site is a rugged natural fortress (refer to Appendix 2), built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire (refer to Appendix 3), by Herod the Great, king of Judaea (reigned 31-4 B.C.) Besides that, Masada is a badge of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction, and at least stand of Jewish patriots in the...