Cistern Interior

Cistern Interior

View of the interior of one of the 12 large cisterns that were carved into the northwestern cliff of Masada.  Note the staircase that descends into the cistern as well as the plaster on the walls.

All totaled, it is estimated that the cisterns of Masada could hold over 10,000,000 gal. [40,000 cu. m.] of water.