Ashkelon: MRA-ISR-Ash001

Type Sample Item

Geographic Location

Historical note about the site/monument: Located in the south of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, Ashkelon is remarkable for its long history as a key maritime port. Over its many centuries of use, it was ruled in turn by the ancient Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Phoenicians, Hasmoneans, Romans, Persians, Arabs, and Crusaders. The original city was destroyed by the Mamluks in 1270. The current city of Ashkelon was founded a few kilometers away from the ancient site during the late 1400s, and was ruled by the Ottomans and later the British. Not surprisingly, ancient Ashkelon played host to a variety of monuments suiting the tastes and objectives of its various rulers. Among these are the remains of a 4^thcentury Byzantine Church, a 4^thcentury synagogue, 4^th and 6^thcentury baths, and an 11^thcentury mosque.

Further reading:
Cross, F. M., & Stager, L. E. (2006). Cypro-Minoan inscriptions found in Ashkelon. Israel Exploration Journal, 129-159.
Israel, Y. I. G. A. L., & Erickson-Gini, T. A. L. I. (2013). Remains from the Hellenistic through the Byzantine periods at the ‘Third Mile Estate’, Ashqelon‘. Atiqot, 74, 167-222.

Inventory