Avdat
Part of The Negev
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Avdat
The desert's hidden city and spring
Avdat was a Nabataean city on the Incense Route, along which caravans carried frankincense and myrrh from Arabia to the Mediterranean ports. It was named for the Nabataean king Obodas and grew under Roman and Byzantine rule. Its hilltop ruins include a Byzantine church, wine presses, and an acropolis. The city belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Incense Route in the Negev. Nearby Ein Avdat canyon has a spring-fed pool and waterfalls among desert cliffs, and local vineyards now revive the ancient wine tradition.
Glossary: Avdat