The Samaritan Museum is an ethnographic and archaeological institution located on Mount Gerizim, the sacred mountain of the Samaritan community near the city of Nablus. Opened in 1991, it is widely described as the only museum in the world devoted specifically to the culture, history and language of the Samaritans. The museum presents artifacts, documents and interpretive displays that explain Samaritan religion, rituals, daily life and the community's long regional presence.

Collections and displays

The museum's holdings combine archaeological finds, liturgical manuscripts and ethnographic material. Exhibits typically include examples of traditional clothing and domestic objects, ritual implements, copies or fragments of Samaritan Pentateuch manuscripts, and items that illustrate agricultural and craft practices. Labels and panels are designed to show the relationship between religious texts, rites and everyday life.

  • Manuscripts and script: items demonstrating the Samaritan version of the Torah and the distinctive Samaritan script.
  • Ritual objects: implements used in festivals and rites associated with Mount Gerizim.
  • Archaeological material: pottery, inscriptions and other finds from the vicinity.

History and context

The museum was established by members of the Samaritan community with support from scholars and local authorities to preserve artifacts and to provide a focal point for cultural continuity. Mount Gerizim itself is central to Samaritan belief as the chosen holy place; historically the site has yielded archaeological remains and a continuous community presence. The museum interprets that long-standing connection and situates objects within the broader history of the region.

Purpose and activities

Beyond exhibition, the museum serves educational and research functions. It welcomes visitors and pilgrims, provides guided explanations of Samaritan customs, and supports scholars studying Samaritan texts, language and material culture. The institution has been involved in conservation of manuscripts and in efforts to document oral traditions and liturgical practice for future generations. For institutional information see the museum page or general resources on Samaritan heritage at ethnographic and archaeological collections.

Distinguishing features

Notable for its singular focus, the Samaritan Museum plays a key role in preserving a small, historically rooted community and its languages. It offers one of the few accessible concentrations of Samaritan artifacts and explanatory material in situ on Mount Gerizim, allowing visitors to link collections directly to the landscape and religious traditions that produced them.