SAMARIA, capital of the kingdom or country of that name; anciently called Schomron, from Semer, the owner of the hill; the royal residence of the kings of Israel, from Omri, who built the city, down to its destruction, and the Assyrian captivity, under Hosea the last king, (Micah, Sup. Severus.) It soon after rose from its ruins, being restored by the Chaldeans, who thence took the name of Samaritans; said to be a very strong city under the Maccabees, but entirely destroyed by John Hyrcanus, (Josephus), and again restored by Gabinus, prefect of Syria; till at length it was enlarged and adorned by Herod, and called Sebaste, that is, Augusta, in compass twenty stadia, (Josephus).