THE SIEGE OF MASADA

Hi everybody, I’m Francesco G. ; I love history and you must have noticed from my previous posts. Now, today I will tell you a story, it’s set during the famous Siege of Masada. I’ve written the story from the eyes of Faustus Hortensius Laevinus, a Roman legionary.  Enjoy reading!

Three years. We have been sieging this fortress in the desert for the last three years. We made a ramp, it cost us five hundred men and months of work. But finally, we did it. Ten days before the final attack an incoming arrow hit my left leg and knocked me down. A simple arrow incoming from a Judaic bow was about to kill me, Faustus Hortensius Laevinus, a legionary from Tiburnus who won tens of battles. I was part of testudo during that final attack. I was part of what made Rome powerful: her army; I could win another battle conquering Masada, destroying the Zealots’ rebellion.

 I took my gladius, my armour and my loyal scutum survived to many battles and entered formation. Our centurion controlled our equipment, encouraged us talking about the Greatness of Rome and then he gave us a mission: escort the battle ram over the ramp.

 We began to go up, but there weren’t arrows or stone incoming from the fortress walls. Nothing. When the battle ram began to beat them, I didn’t hear anything; no voice came from inside.

After we entered, I saw something I will never forget: the rebels were dead. They had killed themselves to save their honour. They will be remembered as heroes. But I know the truth: they weren’t heroes, they were thieves, looters and murderers. They had no honour.

 Honour! Every warrior cares about it, but is it so important? Isn’t life more important? Even Achilles told to Ulysses that it is better to serve in this world than to rule in the Ades.

 These Jews believe that a saviour would free their country; others, called “Christians” believe that a mad prophet called Jesus freed them; he was crucified forty years ago to free Mankind from their sins. I prefer my Gods: Jupiter, Mars and Minerva, they do everything they want despite men’s will.

I was thinking about this when I heard a scream coming from the base headquarter. I went inside and found a woman crying on a corpse. She held a knife, so I tried to take it from her. She hit me in the stomach, but my armour broke the blade. I blocked her arms and reassured her; then I said that I was her only chance to survive because my comrades would kill her or worse. I decided she would be my part of loot: none could damage a roman legionary’s property.

One week later we arrived at the Mediterranean Sea, our sea. I freed Tamar and discovered she was a Zealot chief’s sister. I let her decide and gave her two choices: stay in her country or come to my house and become my wife.

I asked myself a lot of times what would have happened if Tamar chose differently, but,  now that we have been married for twenty years and have had three children,  it doesn’t matter anymore. I finished my service in the Roman army and started my cursus honorum. I may become aediles next year, but the will of Emperor Dominitianus is changeable. I think his dynasty will die with him and new emperors will lead Rome to major greatness.

I hope you enjoyed this story. Please leave a comment and share it with your friends.

FRANCESCO G.