Gamla

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Battle of Gamla

Ruins of the city of Gamla

Date	66 - 68 CE
Location	Gamla, in modern-day Golan Heights, Israel
Result	Roman victory

Combatants

Commanders

Strength

9000

30,000

Casualties

Unknown

Gamla (Hebrew גמלא Gamla or Gamala) was the capital of the Jewish Golan from 87 BCE to 68 CE when it was sacked by the Romans. Its remains can still be seen in the Golan Heights in Israel. The name Gamla comes from the word gamal, meaning "camel", as it is situated on a hill shaped like a camel's hump.

Ruins of the city of Gamla.

The city was founded by the Hasmonean ruler Alexander Yannaeus in 81 BCE.

Josephus Flavius was the Commander of Galilee during the Jewish Revolt against Rome and in 66 CE fortified Gamla as his main stronghold on the Golan (Antiquities of the Jews 13:394).

He gives a very detailed topographical description of the city and describes the Roman siege under the command of Vespasian which led to its conquest in 67 CE, by the X Fretensis.

The Romans attempted to take the city by means of a siege ramp, but were repulsed by the defenders; only on the second attempt did they succeed in penetrating the fortifications and conquering the city.

Thousands of inhabitants were slaughtered, while others chose to jump to their deaths from the top of the cliff (Josephus, The Jewish War IV, 1-83).