JOTA´PATA(Ἰωτάπατα: Eth. Ἰωταπαρηνός, Steph. B. s. v.), a city of Galilee, standing on the summit of a lofty hill, rising abruptly on three sides, from the deep and impassable ravines which surrounded it. Josephus, who manfully defended it against Vespasian, has told the story of its siege and capture: 1200 prisoners were taken, and 40,000 men fell by the sword during its protracted siege: Vespasian gave orders that the city should be razed to the ground, and all the defences burnt. Thus perished Jotapata on the first day of Panemus (July) ( B. J. iii. pp. 6—8; comp. Reland, Palaest. p. 867; Milman, Hist. of Jews, vol. ii. pp. 287—309). Mr. Bankes (Irby and Mangles, Trav. p. 299) has fixed the site at the singular remains of K??ul'at Ibn Ma'an, in the Wady-el-Hamâm(comp. Burkhardt, Trav. p. 331; Ritter, Erdkunde, vol. xv. pt. 1. p. 327), but Robinson ( Researches, vol. iii. pp. 279—282) identifies these ruins with the ARIBELA of Galilee and its fortified caverns.
[E.B.J]