Nablus (Arabic: نابلس)
Situated 41miles north of Jerusalem between the mountains of Gerzim and Ebal, Nablus was founded in 72 AD by the Roman Emperor Titus in honor of his father Flavius Vespasian. It was called Flavia Neapolis, the 'New City', until 636 AD when the Arabs took the town, changing its name to Nablus.
Today, Nablus is considered the major commercial, industrial and agricultural center in the northern West Bank. Olive oil soap, produced from olive oil and caustic soda, is a Nablus specialty, which has been produced for more than 250 years. Nablus is also renowned for its talented goldsmiths and its Knafeh, a tasty oriental pastry.
Tell Balata
Located 1!/2 miles east of Nablus(West Bank), Tell Balata, or Shechem, archaeological site, contains the remains of a Middle Bronze Age city with a massive city wall, two impressive gates, a fortress temple and domestic houses. The city dates back to the second millennium BC (c.1700-1200). There are also other phases of habitation however, even from the Chalcolithic period (4000-3500 BC). There are ancient Egyptian and biblical (ancient Shechem) references to the site, indicating it as an important cultural and trade center, due to its strategic location at the eastern end of a pass between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal. Threats: Urban development and lack of appropriate management has been threatening the site. It has for instance for decades been used as a dump area. Together with the old town of Nablus and various other historical sites in the vicinity, it is however a potential World Heritage Site. It is listed on the Inventory of Cultural and Natural Sites of Potential Outstanding Universal Value in Palestine. Who is working there?: At the moment the site is being developed by a joined Palestinian-Dutch project, in cooperation with UNESCO, into Tell Balata Archaeological Park. The aim of the project is to provide facilities for visitors, like a visitor centre, and to work on the long term preservation of the site. The site can already be visited all year, every day between 8 am - 3 pm.
Jacob's Well
Located 3/4 mile south of Nablus, Jacob's Well is where Jesus met the Samaritan woman who offered Him a drink of water. Jacob dug the well for himself, his children, and his flock on a plot of land he bought upon his return from Mesopotamia. The Crusaders restored it over the well. Today, it stands within the walled complex of the Greek Orthodox Monastery.
Joseph's tomb
A little to the north of Jacob's Well is the traditional site of Joseph's tomb, an Ottoman building with a white dome marks the site.
Sabastia
The ancient royal city of Sabastia, or Samaria, is one of the largest archeological sites in Palestine. Located 8 miles northwest of Nablus, the ruins of ancient Sebastia extend on a hill overlooking the present village of Sebastia. Excavations at Sebastia indicate that it was first inhabited during the Chalcolithic period in 4000 BC. It did not gain political importance, however, until King Omri built his royal city there and named it Samaria. The visible remains at ancient Sebastia include Roman tombs, a Hellenistic tower, a Severan basilica, and Herodian gate towers at the entrance of a colonnaded street with 600 columns on both sides. According to religious tradition, the head of John the Baptist was found in Sebastia and a Crusader church, later converted to a mosque, was built in his honor.
Mt Gerzim
Standing at 881m above sea level, Mt. Gerzim offers a magnificent panoramic view of Nablus and the surrounding area. Ancient ruins at the summit include an octagonal church built by Zeno in the fifth century, and the remains of a mosque and a castle dating back to the time of Salah ad-Din. A small Samaritan community, inhabiting the plateau below the summit for the past 2500 years, holds Mt. Gerzim as sacred. Believing that Mt. Gerzim fitted Abraham's description better than Mt. Moriah, the Samaritans built a rival temple to the one in Jerusalem. Though the temple has long been destroyed, the Samaritans still point out a rock that they believe is the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.
Tell Dothan
The impressive site of Tell Dothan lies in a fertile plain west of Jenin. Once a flourishing Canaanite city, Tell Dothan, according to tradition, is where Joseph was sold by his brothers to some Ishmaelite traders who took him to Egypt.
