SHOMRON (SAMARIA) NATIONAL PARK

This site is the one of the very beautiful ruins of Samaria (or Shomron, or Samaria, Sebastia). Samaria was founded in 876 BC as the capital of the kingdom of Israel (the northern kingdom). It was taken in 722 BC by the Assyrian ruler Sargon II, who destroyed it. Rebuilt shortly afterwards, it was active until the 2nd century BC before falling again. The ruins visible today, mainly a theatre and a forum, date back to Roman times: the city was then renamed Redfish by Herod the Great, who took possession of it around 30 BC.