The Samaritans: Keepers of an Ancient Tradition (Forgotten Civilizations) - Softcover

Rowan, Elliot

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798161215913

Publisher: Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

In The Samaritans: Keepers of an Ancient Tradition, Elliot Rowan uncovers the remarkable story of one of the world's oldest surviving religious communities. Rooted in the hills of ancient Samaria, between Mount Gerizim and the valley of Shechem, the Samaritans preserved a distinctive Israelite tradition through the rise and fall of kingdoms, the rule of foreign empires, and centuries of political and religious transformation. Their community maintained its own sacred texts, priesthood, rituals, and connection to a holy landscape that has shaped their identity for more than two thousand years.

Drawing on biblical texts, Samaritan manuscripts, archaeological discoveries from Mount Gerizim, and historical records from the ancient and medieval worlds, Rowan explores the origins, development, and survival of a people whose history has often been overlooked. He examines the formation of Samaritan identity, the significance of the Samaritan Pentateuch, the role of the priesthood, the enduring importance of Mount Gerizim, and the community's encounters with Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Islamic dynasties, and modern states.

More than the story of a small religious minority, this book reveals how the Samaritans preserved an ancient tradition through devotion, adaptation, and memory. From the Passover sacrifice still performed on Mount Gerizim to the manuscripts carefully copied across generations, their survival offers a rare glimpse into the religious world of antiquity and the power of communities to endure without kingdoms or armies. The Samaritans remain a living connection to the ancient past, preserving one of humanity's oldest traditions in the modern world.

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798161215913
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144