Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis
Omri's new capital and Ahab's palace on the hill he bought from Shemer
Found 1908 — Harvard University expedition (Gottlieb Schumacher 1908; George A. Reisner 1909–10); Joint Expedition under J. W. Crowfoot with Kathleen Kenyon and E. L. Sukenik (1931–35)
Where Sebastia (ancient Samaria), West Bank (West Bank)
Dates from c. 880–722 BCE · Iron Age IIB · Divided Kingdom (Omri to Hoshea)
Now at In situ; finds in the Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Rockefeller Museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and Istanbul Archaeological Museums
How Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis was found
Large-scale excavation of the summit of the hill of Sebastia, revealing a rectangular royal enclosure with finely cut ashlar walls, a casemate wall, and buildings later overlaid by Hellenistic and Roman Sebaste.
What it is
A leveled hilltop platform roughly 90 by 180 m enclosed by walls of the finest ashlar masonry known from Iron Age Israel, with header-and-stretcher stones set in rock-cut foundation trenches. Inside stood a palace and storerooms; a large casemate wall was added in a second phase. Later Herod built his temple to Augustus directly on top.
Why it matters for the Bible
1 Kings 16:24 says Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there. The excavations show a new royal city founded from scratch in the early ninth century BCE, with Phoenician-style masonry that fits Ahab's alliance with Tyre. The size and quality of the work show that the Omrides were among the most powerful builders of their day, as the Assyrian records also suggest.
The Hebrew word: SHEH-mer
שֶׁמֶר
שֶׁמֶר is pronounced SHEH-mer and means Shemer, owner of the hill; root 'to guard' (Strong's H8106).
People this discovery connects to
- Omri — עָמְרִי (Om-REE) — my sheaf (uncertain)
- Ahab — אַחְאָב (Ach-AHV) — father's brother
Places
- Samaria — שֹׁמְרוֹן (Shom-RONE) — watch-mountain; named for Shemer
Events
Founding of Samaria by Omri · Assyrian siege and capture (722 BCE)
Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis in Scripture
1 Kings 13:32 First mention of Samaria in Scripture.
1 Kings 16:24 Omri buys the hill and names the city Samaria; the acropolis is that city.
1 Kings 22:39 The cities Ahab built and the 'ivory house' he made — his palace stood on this platform.
Questions people ask
What is Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis?
A leveled hilltop platform roughly 90 by 180 m enclosed by walls of the finest ashlar masonry known from Iron Age Israel, with header-and-stretcher stones set in rock-cut foundation trenches. Inside stood a palace and storerooms; a large casemate wall was added in a second phase. Later Herod built his temple to Augustus directly on top.
When was Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis discovered?
It was found in 1908 by Harvard University expedition (Gottlieb Schumacher 1908; George A. Reisner 1909–10); Joint Expedition under J. W. Crowfoot with Kathleen Kenyon and E. L. Sukenik (1931–35), at Sebastia (ancient Samaria), West Bank.
Where is Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis today?
In situ; finds in the Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Rockefeller Museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
Which Bible verses does Samaria: The Omride Royal Acropolis relate to?
1 Kings 13:32, 1 Kings 16:24, 1 Kings 22:39.
Related discoveries
- שֵׁןSamaria IvoriesCarved furniture inlays from the 'ivory house' of Ahab and his successors
- יַיִן יָשָׁןSamaria OstracaWine and oil receipts from the royal storehouse in the days of Jeroboam II
- כְּמוֹשׁMesha Stele (Moabite Stone)King Mesha of Moab's own account of his revolt against Israel
- תִּרְצָהTirzah (Tell el-Far'ah North): Omri's First CapitalDe Vaux's excavation of Israel's second capital, with a building project abandoned when Omri moved to Samaria
- כֶּרֶםJezreel Rock-Cut Winery ('Naboth's Vineyard')An Iron Age wine press at the foot of Ahab's Jezreel
- חוֹתָם'Jezebel' SealAn opulent Phoenician-style seal that may — or may not — have belonged to Ahab's queen
Sources
- Reisner, Fisher & Lyon, Harvard Excavations at Samaria 1908–1910 (1924)
- Crowfoot, Kenyon & Sukenik, Samaria-Sebaste I: The Buildings (1942)
- Wikipedia: Samaria (ancient city)
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