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Ashkelon is a coastal city located on the Via Mares, an ancient international trade route. It had plenty of water resources and fertile soil. That accounted for its prominence throughout the ages.
It was first built as a port, fortified with walls, a moat, and one of the oldest arched gates that has been discovered.
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Ashkelon was conquered by the Egyptians around 1550 BC, and remained under its rule for the next 400 years. It was then captured by the Philistines in 1175 BC, followed by the Babylonians in 604 BC, the Persians in 522 BC, and Alexander the Great in 332 BC.
During the Roman period, Ashkelon became a thriving Roman city and international trade center. When you walk around Ashkelon, you see a vast amount of Roman ruins, another indication of its importance.
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