Ashqelon; Askalon Complete

Description

Archaeological work at Ashqelon has yielded amphorae originating from a broad range of Mediterranean centers, attesting to vigorous commercial activity during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The excavations also brought to light a bath complex of that era, together with the remains of two churches and a synagogue. The city occupied a harbor on the Mediterranean littoral, along the coastal stretch linking today’s Tel Aviv and Gaza. In the Roman period it gained prominence for its role in the wheat trade, while in the Byzantine era Askalon functioned as a maritime gateway for Christian pilgrims and as an outlet for wine produced in the Holy Land. Further reading: Ilan, Z. 1991. Ancient Synagogues in Israel. Tel Aviv, 257 (Hebrew). Stager, L. E. 1993. “Ashkelon,” in The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land, 103–112.