Marisa at a Glance

Marisa was called Maresha in Biblical times and is listed in the Book of Joshua as one of the cities of Judah (Joshua 15:44; 1 Chronicles 2:42). Thanks to its location on one of the main routes into the Judean hills from the coastal plain, Maresha was one of the towns fortified by King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son). It was also the hometown of the prophet Eliezer (2 Chronicles 11:8, 20:37). The site’s identification as Hellenistic Marisa is confirmed by the Church Father Eusebius.¹ The modern-day Arabic name Sandahannah refers to the 12th-century Crusader church of St. Anne near the tell (Sanda = Saint and Hannah = Anne).