Bethoron (also transliterated Beth-Horon) was the name for two adjacent towns, Bethoron Elyon ("Upper Bethoron"), and Bethoron Tahton ("Lower Bethoron"), named for the Egypto-Canaanite deity Horon mentioned in Ugaritic literature and other texts. Strategically located on the Gibeon-Aijalon road, the towns guarded the important "ascent of Beth-Horon." Both towns are mentioned in the Old Testament: Upper Bethoron in Joshua [[s:Bible(King James)/Joshua#16 An Israeli community named Beit Horon (Hebrew: בית חורון‎) was founded in 1977 on a site adjacent to the two towns.