Restoration work is being done on the Palace

The Northern Palace was one of Herod's most exceptional edifices.  The Palace was three-tiered and access to the palace was via a well-defended approach leading to the upper level.  The walls of the palace were decorated with frescoes. 

During excavation, on the bottom ledge of the Northern Palace, three skeletons were found  - a young man, a young woman, and a small boy.  Hundreds of pieces of silvered armor scales, many arrowheads, and a remnant of a Jewish prayer shawl were found near the young man.  These three skeletons were most likely the remains of some of the defenders of Masada.

Josephus describes the last moments:  "And he who was the last of all, took a view of all the other bodies...and when he perceived that they were all slain, he set fire to the Palace, and with the force of his hand ran his sword entirely through himself, and fell down dead near to his own relations."