Samaria

Samaria, city in ancient central Palestine built by King Omri c.800 B.C. as the capital of northern Israel; also, the region surrounding the city. It fell to Assyria c.722 B.C. and to Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.. John Hyrcanus destroyed Samaria in 120 B.C., but it was rebuilt by Herod the Great. Samaria is the traditional burial site of St. John the Baptist.