Phasaelis

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

PHASAE´LIS(Φασαηλίς, Joseph., Stepl. B., s. v.;Φασηλίς, Ptol. 5.16.7; Phaselis, Plin. Nat. 13.4. s. 19, 21.5. s. 11: Eth. Φασαηλίτης), a town of Palestine built by Herod the Great in the Aulon or Ghor, N. of Jericho, by which means a tract formerly desert was rendered fertile and productive. (Joseph. 16.5.2, 17.11.5, 18.2.2, B. J. 1.21.9.) The name seems still to have existed in the middle ages, for Brocardus, quoted by Robinson, speaks of a village named Phasellum, situated a league N. of Dûk, and corresponding to the position of El-‘Aujeh, where there are ruins. (Robinson, Biblical Researches, vol. 2. p. 305.)