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Tel Ashqelon Ashqelon was the oldest and largest seaport in ancient Canaan. It has been controlled by numerous ancient empires, including Canaanites, Philistines, Phoenicians, Iranians, Seleucids, Romans, Crusaders and Muslims. The ancient city was finally destroyed by Islamic Mamluks in 1270, to prevent the Christian Crusaders from taking any military benefit of the fortress and seaport. Arabs continued to live in the area in the Middle Ages, and the place became known with the name al Majdal. This Arab town grew in size and importance until the 1948 war between Jews and Arabs, which left al Majdal on the Jewish side of the armistice lines. Today the city is mainly Jewish, and bears the historical name Ashqelon. The ruins of the ancient port city (an area of 0.6 kmē that once was surrounded by walls) are located at Tel Ashqelon national park. More information:
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