Sebastia, Nablus

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Sebastia


imgsize=
caption=
arname=سبسطية
meaning=
founded=
type=mund
typefrom=1997
altOffSp=Sebastiya
altUnoSp=Sebaste
governorate=nb
population=2,900
popyear=2006
area=4,810
areakm=4.8
mayor=Ma’amun Harun Kayed [ [http://www.nablus.org/en/htm/guide/Municipalities.htm Municipalities] Nablus Municipality]

Sebastia ( _ar. سبسطية, "Sebastiya"; _gr. Σεβαστη, "Sebastos" _la. Sebaste) is a Palestinian village of an estimated 2,900 inhabitantscite web|title=Projected Mid-Year Population for Nablus Governorate by Locality 2004 - 2006|author=Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics|publisher=Palestinian National Authority|accessdate=2007-09-14|url=http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop06.aspx] located in the Nablus Governorate of the West Bank some 15 kilometers northwest of the city of Nablus.cite web|title=Nablus|accessdate=2007-09-14|url=http://198.65.147.194/English/In_Depth/PalestineInFocus/Thepeople/former/1967/WestBank/04.shtml] The village's total area is 4810 dunums, the built up area of which comprises 150 dunums.cite web|title=Shavei Shomron's buffer zone legalized by Israel's supreme court|publisher=Applied Research Institute Jerusalem|date=1 July 2006|accessdate=2007-09-15|url=http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=852] Much of the village lands (42%) are located in area C under the Oslo Accords.

Sebastia is home to a number of important archaeological sites.cite web|title=Spain helps restore Sebastia, Palestinian town with historic sites|author=United Nations Development Programme|publisher=United Nations|date=23 April 2003|accessdate=2007-09-14|url=http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/fd807e46661e3689852570d00069e918/ef654ec62868e90685256d120046a1b8!OpenDocument] The ancient site of Samaria-Sebaste is located just above the built up area of the modern day village on the eastern slope of the hill.cite journal|title=Bayt al-Hawwari, a "hawsh" House in Sabastiya|author=Michael Hamilton Burgoyne and Mahmoud Hawari|journal="Levant"|volume=Vol. 37|publisher=Council for British Research in the Levant, London|date=2005|accessdate=2007-09-14|pages=57–80|url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17419792] The ruins dominate the hillside and comprise remains from six successive cultures dating back 10,000 years: Canaanite, Israelite, Hellenistic, Herodian, Roman and Byzantine.cite web|title=Holy Land Blues|publisher=Al-Ahram Weekly|date=5 - 11 January 2006|accessdate=2007-09-14|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/776/feature.htm]

The city was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, and was destroyed again by John Hyrcanus in 108 BCE. [http://www.atlastours.net/holyland/sebaste.html Sebaste, Holy Land] Atlas Travel and Tourism Agency.] Pompey rebuilt the town in the year 63 BCE. In 27 ACE, Augustus Caesar gave it to Herod the Great. Herod expanded and renovated the city, and named it "Sebaste", meaning "Augustus", in the Emperor's honor.

In modern-day Sebastia, the village's main mosque stands within the remains of a Crusader cathedral beside the public square.cite journal|title=Bayt al-Hawwari, a "hawsh" House in Sabastiya|author=Michael Hamilton Burgoyne and Mahmoud Hawari|journal="Levant"|volume=Vol. 37|publisher=Council for British Research in the Levant, London|date=2005|accessdate=2007-09-14|pages=57–80|url=http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17419792] There are also Roman royal tombs, and a few medieval and many Ottoman era buildings which survive in a good state of preservation.

References

External links

* [http://www.sabastiya.org.ps/v2/english/needs.asp Municipality of Sabastiya - Nablus Governorate - Palestine]