This site was mentioned by Josephus in his book The War of the Jews (Jewish war 1:21:9), and also mentioned by some of the early Church Fathers. It was built by King Herod the Great of Edom, and was named after his brother (Phasael) to be a station for travelers between Jericho and Beit Shean (Bisan). The name of the site appeared on the map of Madaba, and the letters of the name were distorted on the map except for the last three letters There is still a ruin called Fasayel in the Jordan Valley region north of Jericho.