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Article: The Masada Myth: Collective Memory and Mythmaking in Israel.
- Article from:
- Folklore
- Article date:
- January 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Folklore Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The site of Masada looms like a mighty bulkhead above the Dead Sea. In a world of geological extremes where human life is only afforded temporary tolerance, Masada stands as the eternal fortress and as the visible reminder of a struggle to the death that transcends history. The power and mercilessness of nature is mirrored here by the tenacity and cruelty of humanity. The stark reality of this scene leaves no visitor unmoved; it demands a mental or emotional response that goes beyond the contemplation of either ruins or landscape.
Little wonder then that such a sight should prove to have an irresistible attraction to an emerging Israeli nation and society. ...