Susita

2km/1.25mi east of En Gev, on a steep-sided hill rising 350m/1,150ft above the Sea of Galilee, is the site of ancient Susita, whose name is derived from the Hebrew sus ("horse") and was altered in Hellenistic times to Hippos. In the first century it was a member of the Decapolis, a league of ten cities on the east bank of the Jordan; later it was incorporated in Herod's kingdom; in Byzantine times it was the see of a bishop; and in the seventh century it was destroyed by Persians or Arabs. On the summit of the hill are remains dating from Jewish, Roman and Byzantine times.