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CHAP. XX,]
SAMARIA.
489
particularly Jenin to the north, running into Esdraelon and
Sechem, containing hundreds of springs to the south, are
richer than those of Judea and Lower Galilee; the country is
also less mountainous ; the ridges by which it is intersected
being prettily wooded with the butm or wild pistachio, the
olive and other trees, mixed with the valonia, myrtle, Indian
fig, &c.; among which, either on the slopes or occupying
separate eminences, are villages and towns. The former are
numerous, and, like those in Judea, are generally surrounded
by a wall, within which are flat-roofed stone-built houses,
usually of one apartment only; but in Samaria the walls
enclose gardens and fields.
The towns and ancient sites in this district command a Sebustieh,
degree of interest which in no other part of the world is Samaria-
surpassed. Near the northern limits is Jenin, the Ginea of
Josephus, 1 a town of about 400 houses, in the midst of gardens;
and about 12 miles S.S.W. from thence, prettily situated on
the slope of a high and almost isolated hill, is the extensive
village of Sebustieh. The latter occupies the site of ancient
Samaria, which was built by Omri, and was the seat of go
vernment on the removal of the latter from Shechem. 2
It was at one time adorned with an ivory palace ; 3 and up Ancient
to the captivity by Shalmanasar, 4 the Kings of Israel, whose remain8,
capital it was, did everything possible to make it the strongest
and richest city in the world. It was partially revived by
the Romans under the name of Gabiana; but it continued to
be an inconsiderable place till Herod the Great restored its
ancient lustre, and gave it the name of Sebaste. 5 Of the
magnificent temple erected in honour of the Emperor Au
gustus, only a part of a colonnade exists; and besides this,
the village contains the remains of a convent and church
dedicated to John the Baptist. 6
Scarcely five miles S.S.E., in a fine valley nearly a mile
broad, which stretches north-westward between Mounts Ebal
1 Ant., XX., 6, 1. 8 1 Kings, chap. XVL, v. 24.
8 1 Kings, chap. XXII., v. 39. 4 2 Kings, chap. XVII., v. 6 and 1.
9 Jos., Ant., lib. XV.
6 Dr. Robinson's Biblical Researches, vol. III., p. 147.
VOL. I. ^ R