Herod rebuilds Samaria as Sebaste
About this date: The marker follows the surrounding narrative in Antiquities XV.8; construction was a process rather than a one-day event.
Josephus describes Herod strengthening Samaria, settling supporters there, and naming it Sebaste. The new city combines royal display with military security.
Historical context
The account links land allocation, settlement, walls, and a monumental sacred precinct within Herod's governing strategy.
Key points
- The renamed city honors the imperial connection.
- Settlement supports both occupation and cultivation.
- Fortified urban centers help the ruler monitor the territory.
People
- Herod the Great
Sources and further reading
- Jewish Antiquities, Book XV
Fortification, settlement, renaming, and construction at Samaria.