 The Northern Palace is one of Herod's more lavish palace-fortresses, and was built on the hilltop on the north side of Masada and continues two levels down, over the end of the cliffs.The upper terrace of the Northern Palace included living quarters for the king and a semicircular portico to provide a view of the area.A stairway on the west side led down to the middle terrace that was a decorative circular reception hall.