Beit Shemesh

Beit Shemesh (Hebrew: בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ,; Arabic: بيت شيمش‎; Latin: Bethsames, Beth Shamesh or Bethshamesh in English translations of the Hebrew Bible) is a city located approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Jerusalem in Israel's Jerusalem District, with a population of 98,084 in 2014. The history of Beit Shemesh goes back to pre-biblical times. The modern city of Beit Shemesh was founded in 1950.

History

Prehistory

Near the ancient ruins of Beth Shemesh there is a prehistoric megalithic stone circle, probably the structure responsible for the name Beit Shemesh.

Canaanite and Israelite town

The ancient city of Beit Shemesh ("house of the sun" or "temple of the sun" in Hebrew) was originally named after the Canaanite sun-goddess Shemesh, who was worshipped there in antiquity. The ruins of the ancient biblical city can still be seen at Tel Beth Shemesh, a tell located near the modern city. In the Amarna letters Shamash is mentioned several times, along with Addu, as one of the greatest gods: the Pharaoh is "like Addu and Shamash".