Samaria - Forum

From the mosque in Samaria the narrow lanes of the village lead up to the large rectangular area of the ancient forum, where the two approach roads to the site meet (parking lot; restaurant, in which small antiquities are sold). From the long north side of the forum, which measures 128m/140yds by 72m/80yds, there is a view of a depression in the ground marking the site of the ancient stadium. At the west end of the forum stood a three-aisled market basilica built about 200, during the reign of Septimius Severus; a few columns still stand erect, and the foundations and an exedra at the north end can be seen.