City in Palestine founded by Herod the Great in honor of his brother Phasael (Phasaelus). It was situated in the Jordan valley north of Jericho, in a barren region, which was, however, made fit for cultivation (Josephus, "Ant." 16:5, § 2; "B. J." 1:21, § 9). In his will Herod left the city to his sister Salome ("Ant." 17:8, § 1; "B. J." 2:6, § 3), and she made it over to the empress Livia ("Ant." 18:2, § 2; "B. J." 2:9, § 1). Like the whole region about Jericho, this city was celebrated for its excellent palms and dates (Pliny, "Hist. Nat." 13:4, § 44). The city was still mentioned by Ptolemy, by Stephanus Byzantinus, and by the geographer of Ravenna; in the Middle Ages it was the village Phasellum. Its name has been preserved in the present Khirbat Fasa'il ('Ain al-Fasa'il); and the brook which flows thence to the Jordan is called Wadi Fasa'