Travel in Ashkelon - Israel - History - WorldTravelGate.net®-

Ashkelon - History

Ashkelon is located 40 miles south of Tel Aviv in Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. Like so many other places in Israel, Ashkelon is built upon the ruins of past civilizations. This was one of five Philistine city-states (along with Gath, Gaza, Ekron and Ashdod). Previous excavations at Ashkelon have uncovered a vast array of remains: the world's oldest arched getaway, Canaanite ramparts and monumental buildings and the ruins of the last Philistine city, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 604 B. C. Also discovered were bronze figures and vessels from Egypt; beautiful pottery imported from Greece, Iona, Cyprus and Phoenicia; a Canaanite cult object from the second millennium BC; and a tiny calf fashioned from bronze and silver.

Christianity came to Ashkelon at the beginning of the 4^th century CE, and remains of a few of the city’s churches from this period can still be seen. The Arabs conquered Ashkelon in the 7^th century and destroyed it. Ashkelon's first inhabitants were Canaanites, in 1153, who built the most expressive feature of Ashkelon that is still seen today: a giant wall that spans around the city. The Canaanites were not independent rulers but had to accept Egyptian control a lot of times. A reminder of the not-always-friendly Egyptian rule is preserved in the Merneptah stele, the first inscription that mentions Israel by name. It was found in Egypt. The text proudly boasts that Israel was "laid waste" by Pharaoh; Ashkelon is mentioned among the conquered cities.

Ashkelon was first settled at the end of the third millennium B.C.E. It was conquered by the Philistines in the second half of the 12^th century. After the Israelite conquest of the rest of the area, the two peoples engaged in several hundred years of conflict. After King Saul was slain by the Philistines, David lamented.

Towards the end of the 13^th century Mameluke Sultan Beybars vanquished the city and completely leveled it. Near the ruined city, the Arab villages of Majdal and Jura were founded. After the establishment of Israel, Ashkelon rose from its ruins in the form of an agricultural community called Migdal Aza. In 1950, the Afridar quarter was built, and the city began to expand.

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