Samaria

Samaria
The ancient capital of the northern kingdom of the Hebrews in central Palestine, now occupied by the village of Sabastiyah in the West Bank north-west of Nablus. Built in the 9th century bc, it was captured in 721 BC by the Assyrians and resettled with people from other parts of their empire (2 Kings 17,18). In New Testament times Samaria was rebuilt and greatly enlarged by Herod the Great . It is the alleged burial place of John the Baptist .