Sebastia, Nablus
Palestinian village and ancient location / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sebastia (Arabic: سبسطية, Sabastiyah; Greek: Σεβαστη, Sevasti; Hebrew: סבסטיה, Sebastiya; Latin: Sebaste) is a Palestinian village of about 3,205 inhabitants,[2] located in the Nablus Governorate of the State of Palestine, some 12 kilometers northwest of the city of Nablus.[3]
Sebastia | |
---|---|
Arabic transcription(s) | |
• Arabic | سبسطية |
• Latin | Sabastiya Sabastia Sebaste (unofficial) |
Coordinates: 32°16′36″N 35°11′45″E | |
Palestine grid | 168/186 |
State | State of Palestine |
Governorate | Nablus |
Government | |
• Type | Municipality (from 1997) |
• Head of Municipality | Ma’amun Harun Kayed[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 4,810 dunams (4.8 km2 or 1.9 sq mi) |
Population (2017)[2] | |
• Total | 3,205 |
• Density | 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
Sebastia is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the West Bank.[4][5][6] In the 9th century BCE, it was known as Samaria, and served as the capital city of the northern Kingdom of Israel until it was destroyed by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 720 BCE.[7][4][5][8] It became an administrative center under Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian rule.[5] During the early Roman period, the city was expanded and fortified by Herod the Great, who renamed it Sebastia in honor of emperor Augustus.[9][10] Since the middle of the 4th century, the town has been identified by Christians and Muslims as the burial site of John the Baptist, whose purported grave is today part of Nabi Yahya Mosque.[11][6] Conquered by Muslims in the 7th century, the present-day village of Sebastia is home to a number of important archaeological sites.[12][13]