Samaria-Sebaste: the Forum

This aerial photograph shows the Roman-style forum and adjoining basilica at Sebaste, which is located in the central part of the Central Hill. Herod built this town around 30 BCE in honor of Caesar Augustus (Sebastos is Greek for the Latin word Augustus). Even though the region's inhabitants included a large number of Samaritans, Herod built a gigantic temple to Augustus on the highest point in the area.