Ashkelon also
Ashqelon and
Ascalon; ( ; ; ;
Akkadian: ;
Ancient Greek: ,
Askalon) is a coastal city in the
Southern District of
Israel on the
Mediterranean coast, south of
Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the
Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the
Neolithic Age. In the course of its history, it has been ruled by the
Ancient Egyptians, the
Philistines, the
Israelites, the
Assyrians, the
Babylonians, the
Greeks, the
Phoenicians, the
Hasmoneans, the
Romans, the
Persians, the
Arabs and the
Crusaders, until it was destroyed by the
Mamluks in 1270.