Samaria
שֹׁמְרוֹן / Σεβαστή · Sebaste · Sebastia · Samaria-Sebaste
Iron Age capital to Crusader·Israelite → Assyrian → Herodian·🇵🇸 Nablus Governorate, West Bank, Palestine
About
About Samaria
Hilltop capital of Kingdom of Israel after 880 BCE (Omri bought hill from Shemer for 2 talents silver — 1 Kings 16:24) with Israelite palatial ivories (Samaria Ivories, Louvre) and Ostraca warehoused at Megiddo, then Assyrian, Herodian (Herod rebuilt as Sebaste honoring Augustus) and Crusader phases. Harvard 1908–10 and Crowfoot 1931–35 uncovered Omride ashlar palaces, Ahab's ivory house, and Herod's Augusteum basilica. Modern Sebastia village sits within tell.
Why it mattersIsraelite capital; ivories; Assyrian annexation; Herodian urbanism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Samaria ostraca wine/oil logistics
- 02Ahab's ivory house — 1 Kings 22:39
Theories
- 01Phoenician mason influence via Jezebel
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.880 BCE (Omri)
- Period
- Iron Age capital to Crusader
- Culture
- Israelite → Assyrian → Herodian
- Builders
- Omri, Ahab, Herod the Great
- Purpose
- Israel kingdom capital; Herodian city-of-Augustus
- Abandoned
- 1265 CE (Mamluk)
- Rediscovered
- 1908 Harvard (Reisner)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
880 BCE
Omri purchases hill
722 BCE
Sargon II takes Samaria after 3-yr siege
27 BCE
Herod refounds as Sebaste
On the ground
Structures & features
32.2767° N · 35.1930° E · 450 m · 3 mapped features
Omride palace (Ahab ivory house)
palaceAshlar palace with ivories
32.2769° N · 35.1932° ESamaria ostraca house
archive62 wine/oil receipts
32.2765° N · 35.1928° EHerodian Augusteum basilica
templeAugustus forum and basilica
32.2771° N · 35.1937° E
Gallery