The Summit

View looking northeast at the octagonal church after excavation.  On the left (north) side of the image is the excavated octagonal church. The church was first built by Zeno in A.D. 484, destroyed by the Samaritans, rebuilt by Justinian (527-565), but destroyed by the Muslims in the eighth century A.D.

The square structure above and beyond the church (on the northeast corner of the compound), is the tomb (weli) of Abu Ghanem, a Muslim holy man.

A portion of the observation platform is visible on the right side of the image.  Beyond the people in the platform, is the area sacred to the Samaritans.

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