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Jotapata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jotapata (also Yodfat, Yodefat, Tel Yodfat, Iotapata, Jodeptah, Yotvah, Tell Jafat, or Jotbah) was an ancient fortified Jewish village in the Galilee, north of Sepphoris, Israel, mostly known for the bloody and ruthless battle in the year 67, as related by Josephus Flavius in his book, The Wars of the Jews, the only account of this battle.
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Jotapata played a major role in the First Jewish-Roman War (AD 66-73). The city housed Josephus' army, and was widely fortified. When the Roman army, led by Vespasian, arrived, it camped on the northern side, the only access to the citadel. Vespasian had three legions — Legio V Macedonica, X Fretensis, and XV Apollinaris — and supporting troops, for a total of about 60,000 men. After an unsuccessful direct attack, Vespasian ordered to lay a siege.
The siege lasted 47 days, with a strong resistance on Jews' side (Vespasian himself was wounded), but in the end the fortress fell by treachery. An estimated number of 40,000 were killed, while 1,000 women and children were sold as slaves. While the few dozen surviving fighters committed suicide, Josephus managed to survive this pact. See Josephus problem.
The moshav of Yodfat was founded on the hill to the north of the Jotapata. The archaeological site has not been developed and remains a barren hilltop.