So called from Shemer, its first owner (1 Kgs. 16: 24); a city built by Omri and made the capital of the kingdom of Israel. It occupied a strong position on a hill, and the Assyrians could not capture it until after a siege of three years (2 Kgs. 17: 5-6). Herod rebuilt it and called it Sebaste. In N.T. times Samaria was the name of the whole of the central district of Palestine west of the Jordan.

See also Samaritans.