Mount Gerizim is the holy mountain of the Samaritans, who believe it, not Jerusalem, is the place that God chose for his sanctuary. The mountain, rising 881 meters above the valley of Shechem, has been the center of Samaritan worship for over 2,500 years, and the archaeological remains on its summit tell the story of a rival temple that once stood opposite Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.
Samaritan Temple
Excavations on the summit of Mount Gerizim have uncovered the remains of a Samaritan temple from the 5th century BCE, built during the Persian period when the Samaritans established their own sanctuary as an alternative to the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. The temple was a substantial stone building surrounded by a sacred precinct, and over 400,000 animal bones found at the site confirm that sacrifices were performed on a massive scale. The temple was destroyed by the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus in 128 BCE, an act that deepened the rift between Jews and Samaritans.
Sacred Precinct
The excavated area includes the temple foundations, a large enclosure wall, ritual installations, and thousands of inscriptions in Samaritan script. The site also contains a Byzantine church built by the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century CE, on the ruins of the Samaritan temple, an act of deliberate religious supremacy. The Twelve Stones, a set of large standing stones near the summit, are venerated by the Samaritans as stones associated with the Samaritan tradition of Joshua on the mountain.
Samaritan Community
The modern Samaritan community lives in a neighborhood on the summit of Mount Gerizim, maintaining their ancient traditions. The community synagogue, the Samaritan museum, and the homes of the community members are accessible to visitors. The annual Passover sacrifice takes place on the summit, and the community celebrates all the biblical festivals according to their own calendar and traditions.
The View
The view from Mount Gerizim encompasses the valley of Shechem, Mount Ebal opposite, and the Samarian mountains stretching in every direction. The modern city of Nablus fills the valley below, and the ancient tel of Shechem is visible at the eastern end of the pass.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
Mount Gerizim is where the oldest religious dispute in the monotheistic world is still alive. Hoshen Tours visits the summit, the archaeological site, and the Samaritan community to tell the story of a people who have worshipped on this mountain for 2,500 years.