Ashdod

Ashdod

A city of ancient and modern import

Ashdod was one of the five cities of the Philistines, and the Bible tells of the Ark of the Covenant being brought to its temple of the god Dagon after a battle with the Israelites (1 Samuel 5). Modern Ashdod, founded in 1956, is a port city that handles much of Israel's seaborne cargo and has grown into one of its largest cities. The Mamane Museum shows finds from the Philistine period, and a long promenade runs along the beach. The city has been under rocket fire from Gaza many times in recent decades.

Glossary: Ashdod