Several sites on both shores of the body of water are candidates for the role of the "five cities of the plain": Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim and Zoara, which according to Genesis were destroyed by God (probably around 2300 BC). Excavations at one of these sites, Bab edh Dhra, uncovered massive city walls and a large cemetery; possibly Sodom was located here. Nearby are similarly situated ruins of perhaps Gomorrah.
