Nablus

Nablus

Nablus is a city in the northern Palestine. Located 69 kilometers north of Jerusalem and 42 kilometers east of the Mediterranean Sea, it is nestled in a wide valley between Mount Ebal to the north, standing at 940 meters, and Mount Gerizim to the south, at 870 meters above sea level. Nablus holds the distinction of being the largest commercial and cultural hub in Palestine.Nablus has a rich and storied history stretching back centuries. The city was founded in 72 AD by the Roman Emperor Vespasian, who established the new urban settlement of Neapolis on the northern slopes of Mount Gerizim, approximately 2 kilometers west of the ancient Canaanite town of Shechem.

Over the ensuing centuries, Neapolis developed into a major regional center, with extensive building projects undertaken during the Roman and Byzantine eras. This included the construction of a hippodrome, theater, and a temple to Zeus on Mount Gerizim. During the Byzantine period, a large octagonal church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was erected atop the same mountain.

The city's original Greek name of Neapolis was eventually Arabicized into the modern appellation of Nablus, which first appeared on coins minted under the Roman Emperors Domitian and Marcus Aurelius. Nablus is depicted on the 6th century Madaba mosaic map, though the representation has been significantly damaged over the centuries.

In the 7th century, Nablus was conquered by the Umayyad Arabs, and in the subsequent medieval period it came to be known as "little Damascus" as it fell under the province of that great Levantine city. The old city suffered extensive damage from a series of earthquakes, but its distinctive seven quarters still stand as a testament to traditional Palestinian urban architecture.

Today, Nablus remains a major commercial, industrial, and agricultural center in northern Palestine, renowned for its artisan soap, skilled goldsmiths, and delectable traditional sweets like knafeh. From its ancient origins to its modern role, this historic city continues to captivate visitors with its cultural richness and architectural legacy.