 Ashkelon | ||
| Ashkelon, Ashkelon, Ashqelon, Ashkelon, אַשְׁקְלוֹן | ||
| Disctrict | Southern | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 134.454 (2016) | |
| height | 10 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Ashkelon (also Ashkelon, Ashqelon or Ascalon, Hebrew אשקלון, arab. عسقلان) is a city in the southern Mediterranean coastIsrael. The modern city has extensive beaches and one of the most modern marinas in Israel; Tourists are also interested in the excavations in the National park the city.
background
The port city of Ashkelon is the southernmost city on the Israeli Mediterranean coast, it is only 13 km from the Gaza Strip. The Arab village of al-Majdal was the location of an outpost of the Egyptian expeditionary force from May 1948. After the withdrawal of the Egyptians in the Israeli War of Independence, the Arab resident population gave up the place and were relocated to Egypt according to an Israeli - Egyptian agreement; in the north and east of the ancient settlement mound, the new Israeli development city was founded and in the course of Majdal incorporated as a district. The modern city center developed around the Afridar district.
history
A little north of the ancient settlement hill Tel Ashkelon, numerous bone and flint finds were found as evidence of settlement in the New Stone Age. In the Middle Bronze Age (2000 - 1500 BC) there was a mighty Canaanite port city here, the walls and the city gate made of mud bricks bear testimony to the size of the city; it retained its importance as a trading town on the Via Maris. As in Ri 1,18 mentioned, the city was initially not taken by the Israelites. The Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II conquered the city on his campaign against the Hittites and later an Egyptian sanctuary was built here.
From 1150 BC The city was conquered by the Philistines and belonged to the Five-City League of Philistines, who were in constant conflict with the Israelites. The King of Ashkelon could not assert himself against the Assyrians under King Tiglath-Pileser III, who also conquered Gaza, even though there were repeated revolts against the Assyrian rulers and satellite kings. After the Assyrians withdrew around 640 BC. the city fell back to the Egyptians and was taken by Alexander the great. The city now became a center of Hellenistic culture and retained its independence under the Hasmoneans and Herodians. Even during Roman rule, the city retained a mixed Roman and Jewish population and flourished well into Byzantine times.
The city of Ascalon came under Arab rule after 636 and retained its importance on the "Via Maris". With the arrival of the Crusaders, the city was the target of the conquerors of the Holy Land, but could not be captured until 1153 after a siege. In the following decades the rulers changed until Ashkelon was captured and destroyed under the Mamluk Sultan Baibar in 1270. The city fell into disrepair from the 15th century. the Arab settlements of Majdal and the later founded Jora near the ancient settlement hill gained in importance; The weaving trade was important during the mandate.
getting there
By train
1 Ashkelon Train Station is with two railway lines from with Tel Aviv connected (from there can be up Binjamina continue, there is a connection to the trains in the direction Haifa). One or two trains run every hour; the one-way trip to Tel Aviv costs around ₪ 25.00. The rail link goes to Be'er Sheva further in the southeast.
Unfortunately, at 4.5 km from the city center around Migdal and just under eight kilometers from the archaeological park, the train station is no longer within easy walking distance; Visitors arriving by train are dependent on a taxi or the city bus connections.
By bus
Various buses of the company Egged connect the 2 Central Bus Station Ashkelon with the main cities in the country.
In the street
The highway further north as a freeway 4 connects Ashkelon along the coast to the greater area Tel Aviv, the street 3 leads in a north-easterly direction to the main road 40 (via Rehovot to Greater Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport) and to the modern toll motorway 6.
The road leads almost exactly in an easterly direction 35 to Kirjat Gat and the 34 in a southeasterly direction to Be'er Shevaleading to the south 4 ends at the border crossing that is currently closed to travelers Gaza.
By boat
The 3 MarinaMarina Ashkelon can only be approached with private boats, there is one in the very south 4 Commercial port, regular passenger or car ferry connections do not exist.
mobility
The distances in the city and especially to the train station a little further away are not short, there is a city bus network.
Tourist Attractions
Ashkelon National Park
The national park with the archaeological park is on Tel Ashkelon Located in the south of today's city and administered by the Israel National Parks Authority.
- in the vicinity of the driveway there are remains of the 2 km long city wall with the 2 Canaanite city gate as the main attraction. The city gate with the 2 m long passage is made of adobe bricks and is considered to be one of the oldest vaults on earth. In one 3 Canaanite sanctuary a silver-plated bronze calf was found, which is exhibited in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
- a footpath leads along the Cliffs in a southerly direction
- in the central part of the park there are picnic areas, water points and toilets and access to the beach.
- the 4 Romanesque basilica is 110 m long and 35 m wide, the central courtyard is surrounded by rows of columns. Here was a statue of the winged goddess of victory Nike and the Egyptian goddess Isis.
- past the fountain of Antillia, a footpath leads to the Byzantine 5 Church of Santa Maria Viridiswhich was destroyed in Arab times and restored again under the Crusaders.
- a footpath leads along the former city wall around the ancient city.
Other sights in the city of Ashkelon
- the 6 Migdal district developed in the area of the Arab village Majdal, the pedestrian zone with numerous shops, boutiques, snack bars and pubs is worth seeing.
- 7 Ashkelon Khan Museum, Ha Azma'ut Square. Tel.: 972 (0)8-6727002. Open: Sun-Thu 9.00-13.00, 16.00-19.00; Fri 09.00-13.00; Sat 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Price: free entry.
- The historical museum of the city of Ashkelon is housed in the former Arab inn (Khan) in the district of Migdal (Majdal), here you can find a replica of the silver-plated bronze calf from the Canaanite period.
- a second center of Ashkelon is located around the likewise old city quarter Afridar.
- in the courtyard of the Afridar Center are in an open air exhibition 8 roman Sarcophagi on display (open 9 am-2pm, Sun-Fri, free admission).
- the ruins of a 9 Byzantine church from the fourth century are located on Zvi Segal Street. A mosaic floor with Greek inscriptions (Psalm 23: 1 and 93: 5) has been preserved from the north wing.
- Not far from it on the beach promenade it says 10 Sheikh Awad's tomb from the Mameluke period (13th century).
- a 11 Roman - Hellenistic tomb with four underground burial chambers was discovered near the marina in 1937, currently it is not open to the public.
activities
- Bathing on one of the various beaches in the city area: the 1 Bar Kochba Beach lies in the killing of the marina, the 2 Delilah Beach joins in the south. Here is the one too 3 Ashkeluna Aqua Park with water slides, etc.
shop
- the old city center Migdal with numerous shops, boutiques, snack bars, bars and banks, is the place where the residents of Ashkelon like to do their shopping; part of it is free of traffic as a pedestrian zone. Car traffic in the streets of the city center is dense, people stopping and parking in impossible places; Parking is much easier to find within a short walking distance.
- Well worth a visit 1 Bakery on Eli Cohen Street, which is open around the clock, savory and sweet baked goods are offered fresh from the oven.
- various shopping malls are located in the outskirts of the city.
In the city with the predominantly Jewish resident population, the Shabbat is observed and only a few grocery stores are still open from Friday evening.
kitchen
Cheap
- there is good shwarma in the 1 Nobi restaurant on Tsfanya Street (near Afridar).
- in Migdal there are a number of inexpensive snacks and restaurants
nightlife
accommodation
Learn
Work
security
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Apart from the usual petty crime, there are no threats in modern Ashkelon. However, the city, only 13 km from the Gaza Strip, has been the target of rocket attacks by Palestinian extremists since 2008. Due to the proximity, the advance warning time to reach the air raid shelters is extremely short (30 seconds), missiles aimed at the urban area are fought with the help of an electronic missile defense system.
health
- the 1 Barzilai University Medical Center is in the south of the city.
Practical advice
trips
- a public sandy beach is the 4 Zikim Beach in the south of the city near the border with the Gaza Strip, but access to the 4 on the street 3411that the place Zikim circled.
- an extensive sandy beach is also in the north: 5 Nitzanim Beach.
- an alternative are the sulphurous hot springs 6 Hamei Yoav.
- are in a relatively short distance biblical sites to visit that Tel Lachish (2. Chron. 32,9), the cave city Maresha, the Elah Valley (where the meeting between David and Goliath is said to have taken place), the Tel Gezer with the walls from the time of King Solomon and the Tel Ekron at Kibbutz Revadim, here was another of the five cities of the Philistines.
- are worth seeing Amatzia Caves, an underground retreat for the Jews in the Bar Kochba uprising and the stalactite caves Soreq Caves at Beit Shemesh.
literature
Web links
- Website of the city administration, hebr., engl.
