Gamla (Aramaic for "camel") (Gamala in Greek) was east of the Sea of Galilee, in what was known at the time as Gaulanitis; the city was situated on a hill shaped liked a camel's rump, hence the name. Founded by Alexander Jannaeus in the first century BCE, Gamla served as a fortification during the Jewish War with Rome. Josephus describes how the Romans laid siege to city, and eventually breached the walls; after an initial setback, the Romans destroyed the city in 67, killing thousands of its inhabitants (see War, 4.1-83).