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[[File:Gerizim sign.jpg|thumb|Trilingual road signs directing toward Mount Gerizim and [[Kiryat Luza]] (''Shomronim'' – Samaritans in Hebrew)]]
'''Mount Gerizim''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɛ|r|ᵻ|ˌ|z|ɪ|m}}; [[Samaritan Hebrew]]: {{Script|Samr|
The mountain is mentioned in the [[Bible]] as the place where, upon first entering the [[Promised Land]] after [[the Exodus]], the [[Israelites]] performed ceremonies of blessings, as they had been instructed by [[Moses]].<ref name="auto">{{Bibleverse|Deuteronomy|11:29-30|HE}}</ref>
Mount Gerizim is sacred to the [[Samaritans]], who regard it, rather than [[Jerusalem]]'s [[Temple Mount]], as the location chosen by [[
The Samaritan village of [[Kiryat Luza]] and an [[Israeli settlement]], [[Har Brakha]], are situated on the ridge of Mount Gerizim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Har Bracha - The Community |url=https://en.yhb.org.il/har-bracha/ |access-date=2022-01-13 |website=Yeshivat Har Bracha |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Not Muslim, Not Jewish: Ancient Community in the West Bank Feels Increasingly Israeli
==Biblical account==
[[File:Nablus panorama-cropped.jpg|thumb|Old City of [[Nablus]] and Mount Gerizim in background]]
According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], as related in [[Deuteronomy]], when they first entered [[Canaan]], the [[Israelites]] celebrated the event with ceremonies of blessings and cursings: the ceremonies of blessings took place on Mount Gerizim, and the cursings on nearby [[Mount Ebal]].<ref name="auto"/><ref name=Magen>Yitzakh Magen, 'The Dating of the First Phase of the Samaritan Temple on Mt Gerizim in Light of Archaeological Evidence,' in Oded Lipschitz, Gary N. Knoppers, Rainer Albertz (eds.) ''Judah and the Judeans in the Fourth Century B.C.E.,'' Eisenbrauns, 2007 pp. 157ff, 183.</ref> The ''[[Pulpit Commentary]]'' suggests that these mountains were selected probably "because they stand in the center of the Land both from north to south, and from east to west". A commentary in the [[Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges]] argues that "the face of Gerizim, the mount of blessing, is the more fertile; the opposite face of Ebal, the mount of curse, much the more bare",<ref>Smith, G. A., [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/deuteronomy/11.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Deuteronomy 11, accessed 2015-11-25.</ref> but the ''Pulpit Commentary'' states that both Gerizim and Ebal are "equally barren-looking, though neither is wholly destitute of culture and vegetation".<ref>[http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/11.htm Pulpit Commentary on Deuteronomy 11], accessed 2015-11-25.</ref>
The [[Masoretic Text]]
All versions of the biblical text then have Moses' specifying how the Israelites should split between the two groups that were to pronounce blessings from Mount Gerizim and to pronounce curses from Mount Ebal. The tribes [[Tribe of Simeon|of Simeon]], [[Tribe of Levi|Levi]], [[Tribe of Judah|Judah]], [[Tribe of Issachar|Issachar]], [[Tribe of Joseph|Joseph]], and [[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjamin]] were to be sent to Gerizim, while those [[Tribe of Reuben|of Reuben]], [[Tribe of Gad|Gad]], [[Tribe of Asher|Asher]], [[Tribe of Zebulun|Zebulun]], [[Tribe of Dan|Dan]], and [[Tribe of Naphtali|Naphtali]] were to remain on Ebal.<ref>{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|27:11–13|HE}}</ref>
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[[File:Samaritans marking Passover on Mount Gerizim, West Bank - 20060418.jpg|thumb|left|[[Samaritan]]s' [[Passover]] [[pilgrimage]] on Mount Gerizim.]]
When Joshua was old and dying, he gathered the people together at [[Shechem]] (present-day [[Nablus]]) and gave a farewell speech, and set up "[[
==History==
[[File:GerizimPesach.jpg|thumb|Passover on Gerizim in the 1890s]]
A Samaritan temple dedicated to Yahweh was built on Mount Gerizim during the 5th century BCE.<ref>{{cite book |last=Magen |first=Yitzhak |title=Judah and Judeans in the Fourth Century BC |publisher=Eisenbrauns |year=2007 |isbn=9781575061306 |editor1=Oded Lipschitz |chapter=The Dating of the First Phase of the Samaritan Temple on Mount Gerizim in the Light of the Archaeological Evidence |editor2=Gary N. Knoppers |editor3=Rainer Albertz |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6NsxZRnxE70C&q=Lipschits+Yehud&pg=PA75}}</ref><ref>For an alternative date of the original construction of the temple during the Iron Age II, see now: {{cite book |title=New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region: Collected Papers |last=Arie |first=Eran |publisher=Israel Antiquities Authority |year=2021 |isbn=978-965-406-744-7 |pages=39*–63* |editor-last=Zelinger |editor-first=Yehiel |volume=14 |chapter=Revisiting Mount Gerizim: The Foundation of the Sacred Precinct and the Proto-Ionic Capitals |editor-last2=Peleg-Barkat |editor-first2=Orit |editor-last3=Uziel |editor-first3=Joe |editor-last4=Gadot |editor-first4=Yuval |chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/57187021}}</ref> It existed alongside the Jewish [[Second Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>''Jewish Encyclopedia'', et passim</ref> By that point, the Israelites were divided as "[[Samaritans]]" and "[[Jews]]", both claiming descendance from the Biblical Israelites and preaching adherence to the [[Torah]], but diverging on the holiest place on Earth to adore God: Mount Gerizim, for the Samaritans, and Jerusalem, for the Jews.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia />
[[File:שכם_ליד_הר_גריזים_צילום-_ליאו_קאהן_1912_-_i_וגנרi_btm782.jpeg|thumb|Old view of Nablus and Mount Gerizim]]
An adjacent city was built by the Samaritans during the 3rd century BCE, and became the center for the Samaritan population.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Dar |first=Shimon |chapter-url=https://
Even after the destruction of their temple by the Jews, Mount Gerizim continued to be the holy place for the Samaritans, as mentioned in the [[New Testament]].<ref>John 4:20</ref> Coins produced by a Roman [[Mint (coin)|mint]] situated in Nablus, dated to 138–161 CE, seemingly depict the destroyed Samaritan temple, showing a huge temple complex, statues, and a substantive staircase leading from Nablus to the temple itself.<ref name=BennettBull>W.J. Bennett and R. Bull, ''Tell er-Ras, Publication of Archaeological Materials and Data from Mt. Gerizim, West Bank'', 1998</ref>
In the [[
In 36 CE, unrest flared in Samaria when a charismatic figure rallied Samaritans to Mount Gerizim, claiming to unearth sacred vessels buried by [[Moses]]. [[Pontius Pilate]], Roman governor of [[Judaea (Roman province)|Judaea]], alarmed by the growing assembly, deployed troops to block their ascent. This led to clashes, fatalities, and arrests, prompting Samaritan leaders to accuse Pilate of brutality. In response, [[Vitellius]], the legate of Syria, appointed Marcellus to govern Judaea and recalled Pilate to Rome for investigation by Emperor [[Tiberius]], who died before Pilate's arrival.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Guy MacLean |title=For the Freedom of Zion: the Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66-74 CE |date=2021 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-24813-5 |location=New Haven |pages=75-76}}</ref>
Eventually, when [[Christianity]] became the [[state church of the Roman Empire]], Samaritans were barred from worshiping on Mount Gerizim. In 475 CE a Christian [[Church (building)|church]] was built on its summit.<ref name=Cheyne>Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref> In 529, [[Justinian I]] made [[Samaritanism]] illegal, and arranged for a protective wall to be constructed around the church.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia /><ref name=Cheyne/> As a result, the same year, [[Julianus ben Sabar]] led a pro-Samaritan revolt, and by 530 had captured most of [[Samaria]], destroying churches and killing the priests and officials. However, in 531, after Justinian enlisted the help of [[Ghassanids]], the revolt was completely quashed, and surviving Samaritans were mostly enslaved or exiled. In 533 Justinian had a castle constructed on Mount Gerizim to protect the church from raids by the few disgruntled Samaritans left in the area.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia /><ref name=Cheyne/>▼
In the summer of 67 CE, during the [[First Jewish–Roman War]], a large group of Samaritans gathered on Mount Gerizim. [[Vespasian]] dispatched Cerialis, who commanded [[Legio V Macedonica]], with a small force of 600 cavalry and 3,000 infantry, probably banking on the Samaritans' lack of defenses and summer water shortages. While some surrendered upon the Romans' arrival, the majority chose to fight. The conflict resulted in significant Samaritan casualties, totaling 11,600, according to [[Josephus]].<ref name=":62">{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Guy MacLean |title=For the Freedom of Zion: the Great Revolt of Jews against Romans, 66-74 CE |date=2021 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-24813-5 |location=New Haven |pages=227-228}}</ref>
==Archaeology==▼
▲Eventually, when [[Christianity]] became the [[state church of the Roman Empire]], Samaritans were barred from worshiping on Mount Gerizim. In 475 CE a Christian [[Church (building)|church]] was built on its summit.<ref name="Cheyne">Cheyne and Black, ''[[Encyclopedia Biblica]]''</ref>{{dubious|reason=Was there a church there a decade before Zeno's, or is this just a mistake?|date=September 2023}} In 484, during the reign of Emperor [[Zeno (emperor)|Zeno]], an octagonal, [[martyrium]]-type church dedicated to the [[Theotokos]], the God-bearing Virgin Mary, was erected at the site.<ref name="Centre" /> In 529, [[Justinian I]] made [[Samaritanism]] illegal, and arranged for a protective wall to be constructed around the church.<ref name="JewishEncyclopedia" /><ref name="Cheyne" /> As a result, the same year, [[Julianus ben Sabar]] led a pro-Samaritan revolt, and by 530 had captured most of [[Samaria]], destroying churches and killing the priests and officials. However, in 531, after Justinian enlisted the help of [[Ghassanids]], the revolt was completely quashed, and surviving Samaritans were mostly enslaved or exiled. In 533 Justinian had a castle constructed on Mount Gerizim to protect the church from raids by the few disgruntled Samaritans left in the area.<ref name="JewishEncyclopedia" /><ref name="Cheyne" />
Excavations at the site were initiated in 1983 and continued until 2006 and yielded tens of thousands of finds. Remnants found there identified that a Samaritan temple existed atop Mount Gerizim by the mid-[[5th century BC]], and that it was eventually destroyed and rebuilt in the early [[2nd century BC]], only to be destroyed again in 111–110 BCE by [[Jews|Jewish]] forces under the orders of the [[Hasmonean dynasty|Hasmonean]] leader [[John Hyrcanus]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Lipschitz|first1=Oded|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6NsxZRnxE70C&q=Josephus|title=Judah and the Judeans in the Fourth Century B.C.E.|last2=Knoppers|first2=Gary N.|last3=Albertz|first3=Rainer|date=2007-01-01|publisher=Eisenbrauns|isbn=978-1-57506-130-6|pages=157–165|language=en}}</ref>▼
According to the ''Continuatio of the Samaritan Chronicle of [[Abu'l-Fath]]'', during [[Sukkot]] in the seventh year of [[List of Abbasid caliphs|Abbasid Caliph]] [[al-Mutawakkil]]'s reign (855 CE), the governor of Nablus forbade Samaritans from praying aloud and blowing the [[shofar]]. However, the following Thursday, they ascended the mountain and prayed loudly without interruption.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Levy-Rubin |first=Milka |title=The Samaritans |publisher=Yad Ben-Zvi Press |year=2002 |isbn=965-217-202-2 |editor-last=Stern |editor-first=Ephraim |editor-link=Ephraim Stern |pages=575 |language=he |chapter=The Samaritans during the Early Muslim Period according to the <i>Continuatio</i> to the Chronicle of Abu 'l-Fath |editor-last2=Eshel |editor-first2=Hanan |editor-link2=Hanan Eshel}}</ref>
▲==Archaeology==
▲Excavations at the site were initiated in 1983 and continued until 2006 and yielded tens of thousands of finds. Remnants found there identified that a Samaritan temple existed atop Mount Gerizim by the mid-[[5th century BC]], and that it was eventually destroyed and rebuilt in the early [[2nd century BC]], only to be destroyed again in 111–110 BCE by [[Jews|Jewish]] forces under the orders of the [[Hasmonean dynasty|Hasmonean]] leader [[John Hyrcanus]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Lipschitz|first1=Oded|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6NsxZRnxE70C&q=Josephus|title=Judah and the Judeans in the Fourth Century B.C.E.|last2=Knoppers|first2=Gary N.|last3=Albertz|first3=Rainer|date=2007-01-01|publisher=Eisenbrauns|isbn=978-1-57506-130-6|pages=157–165
[[File:Harry Fenn. Ruins on the summit of Mount Gerizim, on the site of the Samaritan temple. 1881-1884.jpg|thumb|right|Ruins on Mount Gerizim c1880.]]
The archeological finds have shown that the precincts of the Samaritan temple, not including its gates, measured 96 meters In 475 CE, a Christian [[Church (building)|church]] was built on the Mount's summit. As a result of the fortified church and the previous Samaritan temple, extensive ruins still exist at the somewhat plateau-like top of Gerizim. The line of the wall around the church can easily be seen,<ref name="JewishEncyclopedia" /> as can portions of the former castle, and initial archaeological study of the site postulated that the castle built by Justinian had utilized stones from an earlier structure on the site, probably the Samaritan temple.<ref name="Cheyne" /> In the centre of the plateau is a smooth surface, containing a hollow.<ref name="Cheyne" />
[[File:
The excavation, initiated when the site was in the possession of [[Jordan]] and continued under [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli rule]], uncovered [[Corinthian column]]s, a large rectangular platform 215 ft by 145 ft (
== Etymology and possible pre-Canaanite origins ==
It is possible that the name of the mountain may mean ''mountain of the Gerizites'', a tribe in the vicinity of the [[Philistines]] that, according to the Hebrew Bible, was conquered by [[David]].<ref name=Peakes/>
Another possible straightforward etymology for ''Gerizim'' would give the meaning of ''mountain cut in two''.<ref name=Cheyne/>
According to the narrative about [[Jotham (son of Gideon)|Jotham]] in the [[Book of Judges]], Shechem was a site where there was a sanctuary of ''El-Berith'', also known as
==See also==
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[[Category:Mountains of Nablus]]
[[Category:Sacred mountains of the Middle East]]
[[Category:Samaritan pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in the West Bank]]
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