Hyrcania

E12 on the Map

Khirbet. Mird. Hasmonean and Herodian fortress. Hyrcaneum, along with Masada and Machaerus, fell into the hands of the Sicarii, the most finatic of the Jewish patriots in the war of Independence. In 70 AD when Jerusalem fell, a band of them, being the last survivors of the garrison, fled with Eleazar to Masada (means fortress) which seemed to be a secure place, but not against the relentless power of the Roman army. (Josephus, vii Wars, 8 ff).