ISRAEL ~ Bird's eye view - Masada National Park - UNESCO ~

... A fascinating and spectacular looking place... one more of the great archaeological sites... after the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, this is Israel's second most popular tourist site... Masada National Park is considered to be one of the most amazing historical sites in the world and is a must see for anyone visiting Israel and the Dead Sea area... it offers an incredible journey back in time thousands of years and an insight into the way of life as it was then.... Thanks a lot Noam!! ❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

"Aerial view of Masada from the north with the hanging palace and storerooms in the foreground."
Masada  (comes from the word Metzudah meaning fortress in Hebrew)  atop a lofty natural plateau overlooking the Dead Sea is the site of the fortress built by Herod the great King of Judea, but is best known as a symbol of Jewish resistance, courage and the tragic events of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Roman siege. The Siege of Masada by Roman Empire troops towards the end of the first Jewish–Roman War ended in the mass suicide of the 960 Jewish rebels and their families there.

The newly built visitors center attracts 1.2 million travelers every year. The fortress is naturally fortified and surrounded by deep gorges. The mountain was first excavated in the 1960’s by an international team of archaeologists.

Mount Masada was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Stamps:

2X Flora - Flowers
(Issued 05-02-2013)

Festivals - Yom Kippur Poem
(Issued 13-09-2016)

ISRAEL ~ Caesarea National Park ~

... My first two National Parks of Israel... the Caesarea National Park is one of the countries most popular and most beautiful historical sites.... a magnificent national park with amazing ancient harbor ruins, hippodrome, amphitheater, palaces and beautiful beaches... this was Herod at his best; building a port that was the largest in the world in his day... Thanks Dany!!【ツ】

The aqueduct - The Stadium - Excavations Roman Theatre - Ancient Statue
Caesarea Maritima ("by the Sea") is located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the center of Israel, in the middle between Haifa and Tel-Aviv. The site was an important Roman city, and played an important role in the history of Ancient Israel. The city later decayed after the Arab conquest (8th Century AD).

Built by Herod the Great in around 25-32 BC, it was a great commercial centre during the Byzantine Period.

This National Park features centuries of history showing the many different periods of Hellenistic, Phoenician, Hasmonean and Roman rule. The city was continually razed and rebuilt as each new sovereign leader came to power.

Stamps:
2X Flora - Flowers
(Issued 05-02-2013)

The 50th Anniversary of the Six-Day War
(Issued 04-05-2017)

ISRAEL ~Map and City views ~

... Israels map and many different cities... all on one wonderful postcard... Thanks a lot Christina!!

With great stamp:
From the Festivals 2013  series:
 Etrog Box, Austria, 19th c.
(Issued 26-08-2013)

Israel is a parliamentary democracy in the Middle East, on the south-eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, and the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea to the south, and it contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area.
 In its Basic Laws Israel defines itself as a Jewish and Democratic State; it is the world's only Jewish-majority state with capital Jerusalem.

ISRAEL ~Jerusalem-UNESCO~

My second card from Israel arrived today... a wonderful view of Jerusalem one of the holiest places for many people and the stamp looks really yummie.:-)-)
And a great nature view from Finland.

The Damascus Gate is an important gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. The modern gate was built in 1542 by the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent.It is the largest and most splendid, located on the wall's northern side, it is been the site of the city's main entrance since ancient times.

ISRAEL ~Jerusalem~

ISRAEL ~Jerusalem~
Originally uploaded by gerda_dager

Sent by whiterose. Jerusalem, the Old City by David Roberts 1839 and as it is seen today.