Did essenes died at Masada

The Essenes, a Jewish sect known for their ascetic lifestyle and communal living, are often associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls found near Qumran. While some scholars suggest that a group of Essenes may have been present at Masada during the Roman siege in 73-74 CE, there is no definitive historical evidence that they were the primary inhabitants or that they specifically died there. The defenders of Masada were primarily Zealots and other Jewish factions opposing Roman rule. Ultimately, the fate of those at Masada involved mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans, but their identity as Essenes remains debated.