Ashkelon: Philistines, Sea & Ancient Cities

Ashkelon combines a broad Mediterranean beach with the remains of one of the southern Levant’s oldest and most important cities. Canaanites, Philistines, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and later communities all left their mark here.

A private visit can include the ancient city gates, earth ramparts, Roman and Byzantine remains, the coast, and the story of Ashkelon’s place in biblical and regional history.

Ashkelon’s long story shows how a coastal city can be both local and international, shaped by the sea, trade, migration, and the powers competing for the southern Levant.