ASCALON
Israel.
An ancient city on the coast
of Palestine about midway between Azotus and Gaza.
Its territory once extended over a large area. Early in
the Hellenistic period the city freed itself from Phoenician rule and enjoyed autonomy again. Under the
Ptolemies Ascalon began minting coins. At first minting
was restricted to copper and bronze coins, but from 111
B.C. it also minted in silver. In 104 B.C. the city became
independent, and its new dating era began. The city
withstood the assaults of the Hasmonaean kings and,
except for Ptolemais, remained the only independent city
on the Palestinian coast. Strabo (
16.2.29) refers to it as
a small town, and Pliny (
HN 5.14) calls it an oppidum libera. Although surrounded by Jewish territories,
the city retained its independence even under Herod the
Great. As a city greatly influenced by Hellenistic culture,
Ascalon enjoyed the king's generosity. Herod built a
royal palace, a stoa, and baths (
Joseph. BJ 1.422). After
Herod's death Augustus gave Salome, Herod's daughter,
the royal palace as a present (
Joseph. AJ 17.321). At
the beginning of the revolt against the Romans the insurgents massacred part of the inhabitants of Ascalon
(
Joseph. BJ 2.460), but these retaliated by killing 2500
of the local Jews (
Joseph. BJ 2.477).
According to the ancient sources there were temples
dedicated to Apollo, Atargatis, and Isis and from the
coins we learn that Derketo and Herakles were also
worshiped there. A prominent city also in the Late
Roman and Byzantine periods, it is referred to by
Eusebius (
Onom. 22.15) as to the most famous city of
Palestine. It was a seat of a bishop early in the Byzantine
period. Eusebius (
Onom. 168.3) and other Early Christian writers mention a “Well of Peace” there. A Jewish
community and remains of a synagogue were found
there. Two miles to the S was its port, named Maiumas
Ascalon.
No archaeological investigations have been undertaken
save for a limited trial dig on the ancieat mound in 1920-1921. The 64 ha of the Roman city remains unexplored
although statues and other stray finds have come to light
from time to time.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
F. M. Abel,
Géographie de la Palestine
II (1938) 252-53; M. Avi-Yonah,
The Holy Land from
the Persian to the Arab Conquests (536 B.C. to A.D.
640).
A Historical Geography (1966).
A. NEGEV
