HISTORY
Mareshah is mentioned 8 times in Bible (Joshua 15:44; I Chronicles 2:42, 4:21; II Chronicles 11:8, 14:9, 10, 20:37; Micha 1:15). The city was conquered by Joshua and later fortified by the King Rehoboam of Judah (932-915 BC). It was destroyed by the Assyrian King Sennacherib in 701 B.C. and eventually became the capital city of the Idumeans (6th-1st Cent BC). During this period the city also had Greek and Hasmonean influence. After it was destroyed by Parthians in 40 BC, the city was known as 'Beit Guvrin'. Two centuries later, the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus (200 AD) turned it into a major city and renamed it as Eleutheropolis (“City of the Free”). Maresha also appears in the writings of Jewish historian Josephus (1st cent. AD) and the 4th century Church historian Eusebius. Later Crusaders (12th century) and Arabs had their share of history in Beit Guvrin. Arabs changed its name to Sandahanna (derived from the Saint Anne church built by Crusaders on the site).
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