The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Sodom
(sd´m) (KEY) or Sodoma (sd´m) (KEY) , in the Bible, the principal of the Cities of the Plain (the others being Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar, which was spared) destroyed by fire from heaven because of their wickedness. The cities were probably located near the S portion of the Dead Sea. The ruins at Bab edh-Dhra and Numeira have been identified by some with Sodom and Gomorrah, respectively.