Sebastia

Sebastia

It is the city's current name with a bit of distortion, and this name was given to it by the Roman commander Herod after he built the city again according to the Roman system in city planning, which was done within the year 27 BC. This name has been given to it in memory of Emperor Augustus, during whose reign the city was established, as the word (Sebeste) is synonymous with the meaning of Augustus, meaning linguistically the honorable. 

Sebastia (Sabastiya) is located around ten kilometers northwest of Nablus at the junction of two main historical routes, the northern Nablus-Jenin route, and the western route from the Jordan Valley to the Mediterranean coast. The site offers a magnificent view of the surrounding farmland. Christian and Islamic traditions indicate that the tomb of John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya) is in the town. Numerous archaeological excavations carried out at the site since the beginning of the twentieth century, showed that the oldest archaeological evidence dates back to the Early Bronze Age (3200 BC), and a part of Sebastia landmarks of the second Iron Age (which dates back to the ninth and eighth centuries BC) were also revealed. It included the upper city, the Acropolis, and the walls surrounding the site were also revealed. The walled area contains a central square and a palace, in which carved ivory decorations were found.

Sebastia became a fortified city during the Iron Age (c. 900-538 BC). Then the city fell in 722 BC under the control of the Assyrians and later under Persian rule in the year (538-332 BC). Sebastia continued its administrative role during the Hellenistic period (332-63 BC) after its submission to Alexander the Great. After the continuous occupation of the city, massive fortifications were built around the upper city, the Acropolis, and surrounded by circular towers.  After Sebastia came under Roman rule (63 BC to 324 AD), the city became part of the province of Syria. Emperor Octavian granted it to King Herod in 30 BC to rule it in the name of Rome. Then after Octavian obtained the title of Augustus from the Roman Senate in 27 BC, Herod gave it the Greek name "Sabasti," which means "venerated," to honor him. Emperor Septimius Severus granted it the name "Colonia" in 299 AD. An extensive construction program was carried out during the Roman period, including the city wall, a gate, a colonnaded street with 600 columns, the basilica, the forum, a theater, a temple for Augustus, a stadium, an aqueduct, and cemeteries.

Sebastia became an episcopal center associated with the presence of the tomb of John the Baptist (the Prophet Yahya, peace be upon him) during the Byzantine period (324-636 AD). Two churches were erected there, one of which is located to the south of the hill of the archaeological site. While the other was built in the present town of Sebastia. In 636 AD, the Muslims conquered the city and the rest of the region, led by Amr ibn al-Aas.

During the Crusader period (1099-1187 AD), a massive cathedral was built on top of its ruins. After the Ayyubids, led by Husam Al-Din Muhammad bin Omar Lashin, liberated Sebastia from the Crusaders, the church was converted into a mosque between (1187 AD-1225 AD). The Ayyubids added a tribune to the mosque, the Prophet Yahya Mosque.

Then, in 1892 AD, an Ottoman Mosque was built on the eastern part of the cathedral, and Sultan Abdul Hamid added a minaret to the mosque. In the late Ottoman period, one of the local leaders, Al-Mashaqi, added two rooms and a liwan which were used as a school, then as a public office. Finally, it was rehabilitated into an antiquity’s museum in cooperation between the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Municipality of Sebastia. The establishment of this school had a significant impact on the early educational movement of the townspeople, as the first school was established in 1882 AD by the Protestants. In 1903 AD, the Ottomans established another school for boys and girls. At the end of the Ottoman period, Sebastia was one of the Throne villages that appeared in different parts of Palestine. Where they built majestic high palaces that reflect the social and political distinction owned by influential families, such as; the Al-Kayed Palace of the Kayed family as well as the Al-Hawari Palace belonging to the Al-Hawari family, these palaces are characterized by the distinguished architecture and its outlines, as the palace consists of two floors, in the middle of which is an open yard. The ground floor was used for guest services, while the sheik and his family used the upper floor as a sleeping area. The attention was on the main facade of the gates palace by highlighting the architectural and artistic styles. On both sides of the gate, stone seats were built, and above the arch of the entrance was a foundation inscription mentioning the date of construction, and the builder's name.

The historic town, with its narrow streets and alleys, is considered a model for the traditional Palestinian architecture of the Throne villages that prevailed at the end of the Ottoman period. Restoration operations were carried out in the town's center, including the mosque, the tomb of the Prophet Yahya, the Cathedral of John the Baptist, the Roman cemetery, the olive press, the Kayed Palace, and traditional buildings, in addition to the tourist path. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities implemented the Information Interpretation Center project in cooperation with the Sebastia Municipality, and with the support of the Spanish government, in addition to the rehabilitation of Al-Baidar Square, the current town of Sebastia. The archaeological remains, the historical town, and the cultural scene are significant tourist attractions in Palestine; it was included on the Tentative List Inventory of Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites of Potential Outstanding Universal Value in Palestine.

Church of Saint John the Baptist or Mosque of Yahya, Sebastia

Its connection, according to prevailing beliefs, to the Prophet John the Baptist (the Prophet Yahya). The story mentions that the Prophet John or Yahya, after being killed by the Roman ruler, his students moved his body to Sebastia and buried it in the cave located at the bottom of the center of the current church building, while the head of the Prophet Yahya was sent to the city of Damascus in the present site of the Umayyad Mosque.        

The church and the mosque lie in the middle of the village square, and it is bordered to the north by the Sebastia municipality, to the south by residential buildings, to the east by traditional buildings, and to the west by a garden and park in the center of the town.       

Description of the site: a church built in the Byzantine period at the eastern end outside the Roman city walls. During that period, Sebastia became an episcopal center, which still reflects the episcopal rank of Sebastia to the present day. In the fourth century AD, Queen Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, built many churches on the road that Jesus passed between Bethlehem and Galilee. Among them was this church that embraced the tomb of the Prophet Yahya to honor him and his status in Christianity. But this church was demolished by earthquakes and the Persian invasion of the city at the beginning of the seventh century AD; given the importance of the site and religious status, it was rebuilt by the Crusaders in the tenth century AD on the ruins of the Byzantine church.

Description of the church from the Crusader era: - It is located in the historic town's center and to the park's eastern side. The floor of the outer churchyard is more than two meters below street level. It is accessed by a staircase that was added later, leading to the external churchyard, where its floor is paved with large stone tiles. This square reaches under the adjacent street from the west. The front facade of the church is still standing at its original height, and in the middle is the main gate, which leads to the inner courtyard of the church, which has a basilica plan. It is a rectangle in shape extending from east to west. It was divided into three open halls, separated by massive stone pillars.

It was built of stones trimmed and placed orderly, and the building style reflects the Crusader style prevailing in that period. Some parts of the church, especially the southern region, were built on foundations dating back to Byzantine. Some residential and administrative annexes for the monks were added to it on the south side, while the John the Baptist or the Prophet Yahya shrine remained in the middle of the church. The shrine was renovated in subsequent periods, and a small mosque was built above it. Later in the Ottoman era, a mosque and a minaret were built on the ruins of the eastern part of the church, and three school rooms for children were recently converted into an antiquities museum.

Roman Colonnaded Street

Relative to the columns that were lined up along the street. The street starts from the western side, starting from the western gate of the city towards the east, and is bordered on the north by archaeological remains of the ancient city. To the south are olive trees, and to the east are the residential buildings of the village.

Site description: the planning system during the Roman period was unified for the cities, based on two colonnaded streets that intersect in the middle; the main street faces north-south and is called "Cardo," and the other street is known as "Decumanus," and heads east-west. The city's neighborhoods and buildings were focused and distributed around these two streets. In Sebastia, the topography of the city forced the Roman planners to suffice with a single street, extending from west to east, starting from the western gate of the city; it is a massive gate that was protected by two high stone towers on its right and left, ending with the eastern entrance of the city that has not yet been discovered. The street is about 800 meters, including approximately 600 stone columns cut from the local limestone.

The column with the crown height is 5.50 m, in addition to the ceiling cornice. All these columns are decorated and carved according to the Corinthian style, which adopts the cylindrical body of the column and the decoration of the crown in the form of Artichoke leaves; these columns were lined up parallel to the right and left of the street paved with stone tiles. The width of the road between the two rows of columns is 12.50 m, and it was designated for horse-drawn carriages; Each row of columns carried a portico that preceded a row of multi-purpose shops along both ends of the street, while the two entrances were designated for the passage of residents. The function of the colonnaded road is to secure communication with the parts of the city and a commercial market for the city and its surroundings. Many street columns are still standing tall in their places, while some have been moved to different locations.

Roman Amphitheater of Sebastia (Anfiteatro Romano Sebastia)

The name was associated with the function of the building, which was dedicated to comedic and tragic performances, and other entertainment and cultural performances in the Roman era. It is located at the northeastern tip of the Acropolis site.                  

Description of the site: The Roman Amphitheater was built at the northeastern tip of the top of the site and at the outer facade of the city's defensive walls, which date back to the Iron Age. It is surrounded by a tower dating back to the Greeks on the south side. It is considered an essential component of the city during the Roman period. The primary role of the theater was to hold theatrical and entertainment performances for the city's residents according to Roman traditions and culture, as they were part of the daily life of Roman society. Therefore, theaters were established in all Roman cities. Although they differed in magnitude according to the city's size, they shared the same function, planning, and technical specifications in construction. Sebastia's theater is considered small compared to the theaters of major cities that could accommodate tens of thousands of attendees, while this theater could accommodate three thousand spectators.

The theater was allowed to host all classes of society, and the seats were arranged in the form of suites dedicated to the groups of society, consistent with the social and political class to which each person belonged. Archaeological excavations uncovered the orchestra arena and the lower part of the terraces, and it contained fourteen rows that were divided into six suites; each suite was allocated to a specific class of society. The remains of the building and the beautiful stone decorations on the site shed light on the beauty of the design and decoration of this theater. The archaeologists estimated this theater's establishment date to be the end of the second century and the beginning of the third century AD.

Forum and the Basilica

They are located at the eastern end of the top of the “Acropolis” site,  and are bordered on the west by the remains of the ancient buildings on the hill. To the east is the Interpretation Center of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and residential houses. From the south, tourist sites and shops, and from the north, tourist facilities, shops and residential buildings.            Geographical location and borders

The basilica was a place for concluding and documenting commercial deals between major merchants and resolving and settling any commercial disputes in the Roman era. The public square is a meeting place for the city's residents and visitors, and a public area.        

Description of the site: The Basilica and the public square are among the essential foundations of urban planning in the Roman city of Sebastia as their vital locations. Archaeological excavations have shown that extensive operations were done on the site before establishing these two sites. A rectangular retaining wall surrounded the area; to overcome the different levels of the hill to form what looks like a comprehensive, flat platform for the construction site.

The Basilica was in the western part of the site, and it is a rectangular building with dimensions of 68 x .532 m in a north-south direction. It was divided from the inside by three rows of stone columns, some still standing, with a height of up to 6 m. Their function was to support the roof of the building. The southern facade from the inside includes an apse that protrudes from the outer wall, believed to have housed Roman gods, and an altar for offering sacrifices.

The building is directly connected to the public square opposite its eastern wall, a planning tradition adopted by Roman cities in all regions. It was a place for concluding and documenting trading deals between major merchants, and resolving and settling any disputes that might arise through agreed regulations and customs.

As for the public square, it occupied a vast area in the form of a rectangle with dimensions of 128 x 72.5 m. It was an open square with a paved orderly stone tiled floor. Columns surmounted by decorative stone cornices surrounded the square and the public. In subsequent periods, these columns were moved to erect new buildings within the city. In the southern part of the square, archaeological excavations revealed the remains of stone archways that carried water channels drawn from Ein Haroun, located in the village of Al-Naqura, adjacent to the city from the south. This spring was the only source of water for the city.

The public square is a meeting place for the city's residents and visitors, and a public space in the city center. The square, which is known locally as Al-Baydar Square, was rehabilitated and developed to stimulate tourism in Sebastia.

The Stadium

Stadium is a word of Greek origin, meaning a large open sports facility surrounded by columns and stands for the audience. The stadium is located at the northeastern end of the town, in the valley area at the bottom of the city hill, bordered on all sides by olive trees.             The Stadium is a Roman sports facility dedicated to several games, such as jogging, Archy , and others, within seasonal and special celebrations, according to Roman traditions.

Site description: It is in the northeastern part of the city in the valley area at the bottom of the hill, with a size of 230 x 60 m. Partial excavations were carried out at the site, which resulted in the discovery of some columns still standing among the olive groves. However, the excavations still needed to be completed. Therefore, the stadium wasn't ultimately revealed. It was dedicated to various sports, such as horse racing, jogging, discus throws and arrows, and other sports during seasonal celebrations, especially according to Roman traditions.

Temple of Augstus

The temple was dedicated to honor the Emperor Augustus. It is located on the top of the Acropolis hill of the Roman city.           

Site Description: The planning of Sebastia in the Roman era was consistent with the planning of cities in that period, as the city was divided into two parts: the upper city or what is known as the Acropolis; It included religious buildings, the presidential HQ, and the lower city designated for private, public, and commercial facilities, and the practice of daily life for citizens, including the public square, basilica, city wall, theater, stadium, and others. In Sebastia, the top of the site became the site of the Acropolis of the Roman city, and excavations at this top revealed two temples, one of which was dedicated to the god Curie, where only small parts and the Great Temple of Augustus remained.

At the city's highest point, Herodotus built a temple, which he consecrated to honor Emperor Augustus. It was a temple of great height because of the hill on which it was built, and it was seen from great distances and was built directly on the ruins dating back to the Iron Age.

The temple's layout is rectangular, extending north to south, measuring 35 x 24 m. It is preceded by an open yard from the north. From the outer yard, the ascent to the temple balcony is carried out through a wide stone staircase with the width of the temple front. The archaeologists estimated the height of the front facade to be about 15 m, and some of its walls are still standing at an altitude of 7 m above ground level. In front of the temple's balcony was a row of vast and high stone columns consisting of circular bases topped by the column, formed from successive cylindrical pieces; some pieces are still at the site. From this balcony, the rest of the temple sections were entered, namely the sanctum and the holy of holies; it is reserved only for priests and clerics, where the public is not allowed to enter.

The building was built of limestone, and is close in planning and building style with other Roman temple styles. The archaeological excavations at the site revealed a giant headless statue, believed to have been the body of Emperor Augustus, and the altar dedicated to offering sacrifices was also found in the outer courtyard. The temple was demolished during the Roman period, and then rebuilt in the second century AD with the same previous planning during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus.

 The Dome Cemetery

The cemetery presents a rare style of burial, as it was dedicated to rulers and leaders, and it had a dome roof, and therefore it was called the Dome Cemetery. This cemetery is located in the current center of the village of Sebastia, a few meters south of the church building of John the Baptist and the Ottoman Mosque. 

Site description: In 1910 AD, the cemetery was discovered by accident during the process of constructing a house for one of the citizens, However, the archaeological excavation of the cemetery was delayed until 1937 AD. The cemetery  is located in the current center of Sebastia, a few meters to the south of the Church of John the Baptist and the Ottoman Mosque. The excavations revealed the most alluring private Roman cemeteries - the Mausoleum. The cemetery is about 5 meters below the current street level. The general layout of the cemetery consists of a two-storey burial chamber. The burial chamber measures 330 x 330 cm with a stone door containing 5 stone coffins.

The south entrance is preceded by a portico supported by two rows of columns - four columns in each row. Inside the portico, two stone sarcophagi were found decorated with various geometric and plant and animal motifs in beautiful shapes of lions' heads, which are very splendid. This cemetery was dated to the end of the second century and the beginning of the third century AD.

The importance of the cemetery lies in the fact that it provides an important example of the various burial rituals during the Roman period, where the burial method differed according to the social, political and economic status of the deceased. The people of the lower class of society were buried in rock-cut tombs inside tombs in the form of a rock-cut corridor. Each cemetery includes a non-fixed number of burials, and stone slabs are closed, while the army officers and senior merchants had their tombs given more attention within family tombs in caves carved in a precise geometric shape and decorated stone doors, and they were often buried in stone or marble coffins decorated and hammered with special care.

Dozens of these cemeteries were found in the vicinity of the city of Sebastia, but this cemetery presents a rare pattern of burial in the Roman era, as it was intended for rulers and commanders of armies. The construction of the tomb was carried out from crushed stones in the manner of building official buildings, and the roof was built in the form of a stone dome, and therefore it was called The Dome Cemetery.

This royal cemetery was not spared from the occupation, as they tried to move the cemetery to the site of the public square, and moved its stones after they erected wooden frames to raise the stones. These frames are still erected at the site, and they moved a large part of the tomb stones, which were later scattered, which caused great damage to the royal tomb and its components.