Figure 32

Ostracon bearing the name “ben Yair”

Ostracon bearing the name “ben Yair” which could be short for Eleazar ben Ya’ir, the leader of the Zealots who held Masada from the Romans. Occasionally broken pieces of pottery (ostracon) were used to write short notes or letters (e.g Lachish letters). Ostraca were sometimes used in placing a vote, as in the ballots discovered at Masada with names perhaps identifying the order or role in the resulting suicide. Image taken at the Masada display.