Sites & cities that bear the name of Beit She'an

Beit She'an

First trace of activity : ca. 5,000 B.C.E
Last trace of activity : today
Recorded names : Beth Šəān, Bisān, Beth Shan, Scythopolis

Description : Beit She'an (Hebrew: בֵּית שְׁאָן Beth Šəān ; Arabic: بيسان‎ Bisān ) is a city in the Northern District of Israel which has played an important role in history due to its geographical location at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. In the Biblical account of the battle of the Israelites against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were hung on the walls of Beit She'an (1 Samuel 31:10-12). In Roman times, Beit She'an was the leading city of the Decapolis. In modern times, Beit She'an serves as a regional center for the settlements in the Beit She'an Valley. The ancient city ruins are now protected within the Beit She'an National Park.

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