 Josephus said that the Sicarii raided nearby Jewish villages including Ein Gedi, where they massacred 700 women and children.In 73 CE, the Roman governor of Iudaea, Lucius Flavius Silva, headed the Roman legion X "Fretensis" and laid siege to Masada.The Roman legion surrounded Masada, built a circumvallation wall and then a siege ramp against the western face of the plateau.