Last updated on .
Mount Gerizim is a mountain on the outskirts of the city of Nablus, Palestine. Its highlight is the Samaritan village of Kiryat Luza.
The Samaritans regard Mount Gerizim as the first piece of land ever created. They believe it was chosen by God as the location for the holy temple rather than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Half of the worldwide population of Samaritans live in the small village of Kiryat Luza, and Mount Gerizim is central to their religion.
Archaeological Site
We pulled up to a path leading to the top of the mountain where there’s an archaeological site. Unfortunately, the site was closed for a holiday, but we were able to see some of the ruins from the gate. The summit of Mount Gerizim is a national park run by Israel. Adult admission is ₪22 (as of May 2023) and it’s open daily except Saturday.
The ruins include foundations from an ancient Samaritan city and temple dating back to the 5th or 6th century BC. The city was destroyed in the 2nd century BC by John Hyrcanus. There’s also the ruins of an octagonal church built in 484 by Roman Emperor Zeno. In 533, Justinian I built a castle around the church to protect it.
Walking down from the top of the mountain, we got some great views of Nablus in the distance.
Samaritan Sites
Also in the village is a Samaritan Passover sacrifice site, visitor center, and a museum. The Samaritan Museum is open daily except Saturdays and guided tours cost ₪25 (as of May 2023). The museum teaches about Samaritan culture, religion, and traditions. A guide can answer any questions about Samaritanism or Mount Gerizim. We weren’t able to visit any of these places because they were closed during our visit.
