?Since when does Ashkelon exist
Ashkelon is one of the oldest cities in the world which was the cradle of human culture.
Ashkelon mentioned in the bible in 8 verses.
The famous verse from Judge book about Shimshon the Hero.
“And the spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his Unger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.” (Judges book, chapter 14, verse 19).
Ashkelon was one of the most important of the five Philistines cities: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gat, Gaza and Ekron.
David’s Lamentation
“Tell it not in Gat, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice”. (2 Samuel, chapter1, verse20)
Tribes that lived in the land of Canaan. When the Israelites arrived in the land.
“And Joshua said Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. “(Joshua book, chapter3, verse10)
?What is the origin of the name Ashkelon
?What is the importance of Ashkelon
A mosaic from the Byzantine period in Tel Ashkelon
We will tour in Tel Ashkelon and see the great unique evidence from the different periods that exist in it
The Egyptian period
In The Egyptian inscriptions of the Marat from the 19th century BC mentioned Ashkelon.
Letters El Amarna mid-14th century BC mentioned Ashkelon.
The letters were found in Egypt they were made of clay, and were written in Akkadian the international language: the governor of Ashkelon sent them to Pharaoh and declare to him: I protected the city and organize all the products to your army needs, waiting to your orders.
Ramses the second was the king of Egypt 66 years. Egypt knew the importance of Ashkelon location and her conquest was engraved on a temple wall of Ramses the second.
The Hellenistic period 332 BCE
Alexander Mokdon conquest Ashkelon and has developed a foreign city where pagan worship flourished.
There was a temple to the goddess Aphrodite and the god Heracles.
The Hasmoneans period 167 BCE
The king Alexsander Yanai was the ruler for a short time.
The Roman period 63 BCE
According to the tradition Herod’s the Great was born in Ashkelon in 37 BCE. He was built magnificent buildings in the city. A big Jewish community in Roman days was lived in Ashkelon.
The Byzantine period – era of the Mishna and the Talmud 324 CE.
Ashkelon was at its peak, there were found lots of churches excavation all over the city, mosaic floors from private hoses.
There was a big commercial with other countries along the Mitterrandian sea.
The Muslim period -the Fatimid Dynasty 1029
Ashkelon which was inhabited by Christians was conquered by the Arabs. in the same wars were destruction of the big palaces in the city and the marble pillars were taken to build the new wall and fortress the city. they also use the marble to build new houses.
the Jewish community in the city were lived in peace with the Arabs and was a good relationship between them and the Jewish community in Egypt. Till the 11 century CE.
The Crusaders period 1099-1260
king Baldwin the third came to conquest the Egyptian Ashkelon. He put a siege for five months. After the occupation the crusaders built a strong wall with towers and fortified gates around the city.
In 1187 Saladin fought against the Crusaders and occupied part of the land of Israel. Saladin occupied the city Ashkelon; he destroyed the fortifications and the wall of the city.
In 1191 Richard Lev Eri, King of England, joins the Third Crusaders.
He put a long siege on the Ashkelon city and after very hard battle between him and Saladin, he conquest the city.
The Crusaders rebuilt the city and the wall.
The Mameluke period 1260-1517
The Mameluke sultan Beavers conquest the land of Israel. In daring battles, he conquest the Crusaders fortresses along the coastal plain and destroyed them.
In Ashkelon Beavers destroyed all the Crusaders fortifications and the city.
The old Ashkelon is abandoned and not renew in the same place.
The Mamelukes built in the east side of the city a new neighborhood-Magdal, in the center built a big mosque with typical Mameluke art: integrated stones in two colors-Ablak.
