Masada was a natural fortress. In 66 CE, during the Jewish Revolt against the Romans, Masada was captured by a small group of Jews. In 72 CE, however, the Roman General Silva decided to put an end to the resistance. When the Zealot leader Eleazar ben Jair saw the end nearing, he gathered his people and they chose death with honor by their own hands rather than being captured alive and becoming slaves to the Romans.