A 2,000-year-old basilica, the largest in the country, was unveiled in Ashkelon - Walla! Tourism

2021-06-04T02:57:50.442Z

A huge basilica complex from the Roman period, unearthed in an archeological excavation as part of a development in the Ashkelon National Park, in which about 200 marble details of columns and titles were found. Enter Walla! For details

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A 2,000-year-old basilica, the largest in the country, was unveiled in Ashkelon

In the huge basilica complex, which was used for performances and religious ceremonies in Ashkelon, there was also a small theater and about 200 private marble weighing hundreds of tons, including columns and titles 13 meters high

Spectacular: A 1300-year-old church was unveiled near Mount Tabor

To the full article

Herod the Great founded it.

The Basilica in Ashkelon National Park - Aerial View (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Emil Aljem)

Herod's origin from Ashkelon?

In the basilica (Roman public building) dating to the Roman period, the public life of the city took place during this period, its citizens met for business and social and legal matters, there were performances and religious ceremonies.

According to Dr. Rachel Bar-Natan, Saar Ganor and Federico Cobrin, the directors of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority,

The hall is adorned all around with rows of marble columns and capitals, which rose to an estimated height of 13 meters and supported the roof of the building.

Its floor and walls were built of marble. "

According to the researchers, "The basilica was founded by Herod the Great, one of the sources indicates that his family originated from the city of Ashkelon. During the Roman Seventh Dynasty, in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, the building was renovated, marble architectural items were added and a small theater. Discovered in the foundation of the ancient floors of the building, indicate the construction in the days of one of the great builders known to the Land of Israel. The historian Yosef ben Matityahu mentioned in his writings the construction of Herod in the city of Ashkelon, Understand the historical source. "

Title of a marble pillar found in Tel Ashkelon National Park (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Yaniv Cohen)

Plants and eagle decorations on the pillars

The marble, which was discovered as part of the archeological excavations conducted at the site over the years, the last of which ended about two years ago, was brought from Asia Minor (Turkey) by merchant ships to the canopy of the city of Ashkelon, which was known as a bustling trading city.

In total, about 200 marble details weighing hundreds of tons were exposed, indicating the great splendor of the building.

Among the items, dozens of column headings with plant ornaments were discovered, on some of which appears the eagle - a symbol of the Roman Empire.

In the corners of the building stood pillars and heart-shaped titles.

Meanwhile, in British excavations in the building in the 1920s, huge statues were discovered, including a statue of Nika - the goddess of victory, carried on earth by the god Atlas and the statue of Isis - an Egyptian goddess in the form of Tikha, the goddess of fortune of the city.

A statue of Nika, the goddess of victory, carried on the earth by the god Atlas, and the statue of Isis, an Egyptian goddess in the form of Tikha, the goddess of fortune of the city in the Ashkelon National Park (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Yaniv Cohen)

"The structure, huge in size, happens on the roof and is divided into three parts."

The Basilica and the Odeon Complex (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Yaniv Cohen)

The marble items were sawn to make paving stones

The structure of the basilica was destroyed in an earthquake that occurred in the Land of Israel in 363 AD.

The earthquake waves are clearly visible on the floor of the building and are tangible evidence of the events that took place in Ashkelon this year.

After our destruction the place was abandoned.

During the Abbasid and Fatimid periods, the basilica was used as an industrial area and a number of buildings were built there.

In one of them, the columns and capitals of the basilica were used in secondary use to build the walls of the buildings.

During the Ottoman period, evidence was found for sawing the marble items, for the purpose of preparing paving stones and even for transferring some of the magnificent architectural items for the construction of buildings.

As part of the complex preservation and restoration work of the Odion (theater) and the magnificent basilica, the famous and spectacular marble sculptures of Old Ashkelon will be placed in the southern part of the basilica.

In the first stage, the auditorium will be preserved and arranged.

With the donation of the Leon Levy Foundation, modern seats, a stage, and a signage and content system will be established there.

At the same time, he started the pilot site for placing the impressive marble items, and in a complex operation, one of the pillars, weighing tens of tons, was hoisted in the basilica.

The excavated basilica floor will be preserved and leveled, and additional columns will be placed in the perimeter, in accordance with the "pilot" conclusions.

Then, a magnificent basilica, the largest in Israel, will be available to the public.

In the meantime, visitors will be able to sit on the odeon seats whose works are expected to be completed in the coming months and look at the works to be carried out in the adjacent basilica.

Imaging of the Great Basilica in Ashkelon (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Tzormel Turner Landscape Architecture)

Will be maintained and arranged.

The exposed odeon (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Yaniv Cohen)

A 2 km route will pass between the prominent visitor centers

Meanwhile, the new and accessible set of paths that the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ashkelon Municipality are developing and regulating in the national park is intended to reveal in an experiential and more comfortable way the unique nature, heritage and landscape values of the national park and thereby enhance the visitor experience.

This route, about 2 km long, will pass between the prominent places of visit in the national park, including the oldest arched Canaanite gate in the world, the famous water wells of the ancient city, the basilica and the Odeon, and the Crusader walls. Signposted and adapted content. In the

future, another hiking trail will be prepared to the Old Wall and the Ashkelon Sands and provide a glimpse into the rich flora and fauna south of the national park.Between the two hiking trails, a visitor center will be established. All periods.

Archaeologist Saar Ganor holds an ancient nail found in an excavation at Tel (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority, Yaniv Cohen)

According to Shaul Goldstein, General Manager of the Nature and Parks Authority: And will further emphasize its heritage and uniqueness values. "

According to Tomer Glam, Mayor of Ashkelon:" Ashkelon National Park is one of the most important and ancient sites in Israel and even in the world and time and time again it is one of the most visited sites in the country.

I am convinced that the restoration and conservation work in the garden, the new archeological exposures and the development work, including new and accessible paths, will significantly contribute to the natural beauty of the garden and strengthen its status as the most beautiful and well-kept national park in Israel. "

According to Shelby Witt, founder of the Leon Levy Foundation, whose conservation and restoration work was made possible, among other things, by her generous contribution: "When Leon and I visited Ashkelon in 1985, we did not imagine that our ties with that ancient seaport would last more than three decades. The many discovered by the Leon Levy delegation will now be restored and the famous Roman sculptures of Ashkelon will return to their original location. "

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Source: walla

All life articles on 2021-06-04

A 2,000-year-old basilica, the largest in the country, was unveiled in Ashkelon - Walla! Tourism

A 2,000-year-old basilica, the largest in the country, was unveiled in Ashkelon

More on Walla!

Spectacular: A 1300-year-old church was unveiled near Mount Tabor

Herod's origin from Ashkelon?

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