Ascalon

A Philistine city on the southern coast of Palestine, southwest of Jerusalem. Excavations have uncovered remains of the Roman period, with some small areas of Philistine levels. Egyptian texts describe Ascalon as one of the cities that revolted against Rameses II. During the Roman period, Ascalon was the birthplace of Herod the Great. It flourished during that time and was occupied in the Byzantine and Arab periods.

[Askalon, Askelon]. One of the five Philistine cities on the south coast of Palestine, 50 km southwest of Jerusalem. Excavations by Garstang in the early 1920s found mainly remains of the Roman period, though Philistine levels were reached in small soundings. Egyptian texts indicate that Ascalon was one of the cities that revolted against Rameses ii and Memeptah and that it was the centre of worship of the fish god Derhets. In the Roman period, Ascalon was the birthplace of Herod the Great and the city flourished at that time. The city continued to be occupied in the Byzantine and Arab periods and it was famous for the Mosque of Omar.