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Samaria

The Iron Age acropolis of Samaria.

The ancient site of Shomron (Samaria) covers the hillside overlooking the modern Palestinian village of Sebastia on the eastern slope of the hill. Remains have been found here from the Canaanite, Hellenistic, Herodian, Roman, and Byzantine eras. Only the acropolis of Samaria has been extensively excavated down to the bedrock. The palace was excavated in the early 20th century by the Harvard Expedition and identified by them as the palace of Omri. Archaeological finds from the Roman-era town, called Sebaste, which was rebuilt and renamed by Herod the Great in 30 B.C.E., include a colonnaded street, a temple-lined acropolis, and a lower city.

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Relating to the Byzantine empire, which ruled the Eastern Mediterranean from the fifth century CE to 1453; its capital was Byzantium (modern Istanbul).

Dug up, often from an archaeological site.

Of or relating to Greek culture, especially ancient Greece after Alexander the Great.

Of or relating to the reign of the family of Herod, which governed Palestine from 55 B.C.E. to the end of the first century C.E.

The stage of development during which humans used iron weapons; in the ancient Near East, approx. 1200 to 500 B.C.E.

Belonging to the ancient region of Israel and Judah, derived from the Latin name for the Roman province of Palaestina.