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| The name Sebastia is derived from the Greek term “Sebaste,” a title synonymous with the Roman Emperor Augustus and meaning “venerable” or “revered” in Greek |
GHLands : Sebastia, a Palestinian town located northwest of Nablus, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in historic Palestine, with roots stretching back more than five millennia. Over the centuries, it has been shaped by successive civilizations and kingdoms, beginning with the Canaanites during the Early Bronze Age, followed by the ancient city of Samaria founded by King Omri in the ninth century BC, and later by Assyrian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader and Ottoman rule.
The town is home to a wide range of archaeological remains documenting this succession of civilizations. Its historic core has also retained aspects of its architectural character from the Ottoman period, when Sebastia was one of the so-called "throne villages" and a center of local influence.
On July 24, 2026, the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially inscribed Sebastia on the World Heritage List during the committee's meeting in Busan, South Korea. The decision marked a significant step toward international recognition of the town's historical and cultural value.
A Strategic Location and Ancient History
Sebastia lies approximately 12 kilometers northwest of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, at a crossroads linking the governorates of Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarm and connecting the area with the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley.
The historic and archaeological town stands on a hill rising approximately 463 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by fertile valleys and agricultural land known for the cultivation of olive trees, almonds, figs and field crops.
The name Sebastia is derived from the Greek term "Sebaste," meaning "venerable" or "revered," a title associated with the Roman Emperor Augustus. Herod the Great gave the city the name after receiving the title from the emperor in 30 BC, and later rebuilt and redesigned the city in the Roman style in 27 BC in his honor.
From the Canaanites to Samaria
Archaeological evidence indicates that the earliest settlement at Sebastia dates back to the Early Bronze Age, around 3200 BC, when the Canaanites inhabited the area.
Its strategic location gradually increased its importance until it became a major political center in the ninth century BC. Around 876 BC, King Omri built a city on the hill and named it Samaria, making it his new capital.
The city's location helped strengthen control over regional trade routes, giving it considerable political and economic importance. It later fell to the Assyrians under King Sargon II in 722 BC.
Following Assyrian rule, the city came under Persian control before entering a new phase with the expansion of Hellenistic influence across the region.
The Hellenistic and Roman Eras
In 331 BC, Alexander the Great captured the city, which became a Hellenistic settlement inhabited by Macedonian soldiers. Its identity and urban character were subsequently influenced by Greek traditions.
During the Hasmonean period, the city was destroyed in 108 BC, but it later regained its importance under Roman rule.
In 27 BC, Herod the Great extensively rebuilt Sebastia and introduced a distinctly Roman urban character, ushering in a period of architectural and cultural development.
The city's importance continued during the Roman era until Emperor Septimius Severus granted it the status of a Roman colony around 200 AD, further enhancing its position among the Roman cities of the region.
Sebastia as a Religious Center in the Byzantine Era
With the spread of Christianity during the Byzantine period, Sebastia acquired significant religious importance and became an episcopal center.
Its religious significance was associated with the site believed to contain the tomb of the Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist), according to Islamic and Christian traditions. This connection gave the city particular religious importance and made it a destination for pilgrims and visitors.
In 15 AH, corresponding to 636 AD, Sebastia came under Muslim rule after being conquered by Muslim forces led by Amr ibn al-As. The town subsequently became part of the wider Islamic civilization of the Levant.
From the Crusader Period to Ottoman Rule
During the Crusader period, Sebastia underwent changes to its religious landmarks, including the construction of a cathedral over the site associated with the tomb of John the Baptist.
The town remained under Crusader control until it was captured by Saladin in 583 AH/1187 AD. The cathedral was later converted into the Mosque of Prophet Yahya, which became one of the town's most prominent historical and religious landmarks.
Under Ottoman rule, Sebastia retained its historical and religious significance. An Ottoman mosque was added to the town, while Sultan Abdul Hamid II ordered the construction of its minaret in 1892.
Toward the end of the Ottoman period, Sebastia emerged as one of the so-called "throne villages," which served as centers of local power from which influential families exercised authority over large surrounding areas.
This political and social role was reflected in the town's architecture, with large residences and palaces built in the traditional Palestinian architectural style. Among the most notable are Qasr al-Kayed and Qasr al-Hawari.
Archaeological Landmarks That Tell the City's Story
Sebastia contains a broad range of archaeological sites reflecting the different civilizations that shaped its history. Together, these remains form an open historical record of the region's successive eras.
The Roman Colonnaded Street
The Roman Colonnaded Street is one of Sebastia's most prominent archaeological landmarks. It extends for approximately 800 meters toward the western gate.
The street once featured around 600 columns. Parts of the columns and Corinthian capitals remain today, bearing witness to the architectural character of the city during the Roman period.
The Roman Theater
The Roman Theater reflects aspects of public and cultural life in the city during the Roman era. It has a semicircular design, divided into lower and upper sections, and was built to accommodate hundreds of spectators.
The Temple of Augustus
The foundations of the Temple of Augustus stand at the highest point of the hill on which Sebastia is built. It is one of the town's most prominent Roman-era landmarks.
Herod the Great constructed the temple in honor of the Roman Emperor Augustus as part of his broader rebuilding and development of the city.
The Basilica, Courthouse and Market Area
The site contains several landmarks reflecting the civic and administrative organization of the Roman city, including the basilica, courthouse and market, as well as the public square known as the forum.
The Hellenistic Tower
The Hellenistic Tower dates to the fourth century BC. It is a massive circular defensive structure distinguished by a distinctive construction technique in which large stones were laid in a vertically inclined manner.
The Roman Tomb and Dome Tomb
The site consists of a structure that served as a family tomb. It features a circular domed roof, while its exterior façade is decorated with stone columns and its interior contains large stone sarcophagi.
The Mosque of Prophet Yahya
Located in the center of the town, the mosque is associated, according to Islamic and Christian traditions, with the site believed to contain the tomb of the Prophet Yahya ibn Zakariya, known in Christianity as John the Baptist.
Sebastia on the World Heritage List
Sebastia's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 24, 2026, marked a significant milestone for the town and provided international recognition of its historical and cultural significance.
The decision was welcomed by Palestinians. Adil Atiyeh, Palestine's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, described the inscription as a victory for Palestinian national identity and an important step toward protecting the site from the risks of erasure and the loss of its historical character.
Israel, however, objected to the decision. Israel's representative to UNESCO, Nina Ben-Ami, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said, according to their stated position, that the decision ignored what they described as the "historic Jewish connection" to the biblical hill of Samaria.
The Archaeological Site Under Israeli Restrictions
Despite Sebastia's inscription on the World Heritage List, the town faces challenges linked to Israeli control over large parts of its archaeological and historic area.
Nearly half of the town's area falls within the area classified as "Area C," which is under full Israeli military and administrative control. This has affected the ability of Palestinian institutions to manage and protect the site, with the Sebastia municipality barred from carrying out restoration, maintenance and archaeological excavation work in parts of the area.
The restrictions also include the harassment of Palestinian cleaning crews and obstruction of their work, as well as restrictions on raising the Palestinian flag in the archaeological area.
The "Samaria National Park" Project and Palestinian Concerns
Since 2023, the Israeli government has allocated more than 30 million shekels to the "Samaria National Park" project in the area, according to information cited regarding the project.
The plan includes the construction of a bypass road that would allow access to the archaeological site without passing through the Palestinian town, as well as the installation of a wire fence that could restrict Palestinian farmers' access to olive groves surrounding the site.
Palestinians fear that the project could further isolate Sebastia from its historic and agricultural surroundings and reshape the relationship between the town's residents and the archaeological site, which forms an integral part of their identity and represents an important source of tourism and economic activity.
A Military Outpost Inside the Archaeological Area
The area witnessed further escalation in 2024 and 2025, when Israeli forces took control of an estimated 1,300 square meters within the archaeological zone to establish a permanent military outpost overlooking the Temple of Augustus and several major archaeological sites.
This development comes amid a series of measures that Palestinians say have affected the ability of local institutions to protect and manage the site while increasing pressure on the town and its residents.
Palestinian Heritage Amid a Changing Reality on the Ground
The challenges facing Sebastia are not limited to settlement projects and military measures. The town has also witnessed repeated raids by Israeli forces and settlers, closures of roads leading to the area, and the demolition of several tourism-related facilities and cafés.
While Sebastia's inscription on the World Heritage List represents international recognition of its historical and cultural significance, the struggle over the future of the site and its surroundings continues on the ground.
For Palestinians, concerns remain that Israeli measures could alter the area's character and further separate the archaeological site from its surrounding population and agricultural lands.
Today, Sebastia stands at the intersection of two contrasting realities: growing international recognition of a site that embodies thousands of years of history, and an evolving reality on the ground marked by restrictions on access to parts of the site, as well as challenges to its Palestinian management and preservation.
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