Samaria
/səˈmɛə.ri.ə/noun
An ancient city and region in central Palestine, later the name of a historical district in the Levant.
Did you know?Samaria was named by King Omri after the man (or family) who sold him the hill, and the city’s name later became the name of the surrounding district in biblical and classical sources.
Etymological Timeline
9th Century BCE
Hebrew
Shomron / Šōmrōn
“The hill or city of Samaria, likely named for its former owner or linked to a Semitic root meaning "watch" or "keep."”
8th Century BCE
Assyrian
Sa-ma-ri-na
“The Assyrian form of the city and kingdom name in imperial records.”
5th–1st Century BCE
Greek
Samareia
“The Greek name for the city and region of Samaria.”
1st Century CE
Latin
Samaria
“The Roman and biblical Latin form of the region and city name.”
Middle English
English
Samarie / Samaria
“The biblical and historical name for the region of Samaria.”
Modern English
English
Samaria
“The established historical and biblical name for the ancient region and city.”