A magnificent view of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) from the ancient hilltop city of Hippos (Greek) — or Sussita (Aramaic) — situated on the western slope of the Golan. Both names mean horse (sus in Hebrew), although it’s not entirely clearly why the town was called this – you really have to bend your brain to see the shape of a horse in the topography. In any event, the city has been known by both names since it was founded during the Hellenistic period by the Seleucid empire. The city sits on a hilltop plateau with steep cliffs on each side, providing a natural defense. Hippos/Sussita was one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. The city reached its zenith during the Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries CE) and became a major Christian center. It served as the seat of a bishop and home to as many as seven to nine churches.