Ashkelon – five-star city

All residents of the city of Ashkelon saw the coat of arms of the city. A stunning image of the sea, a growing marble column, 5 stars, a working cogwheel, waves and a film strip with contours similar to a ship. But does everyone understand the meaning inherent in this coat of arms? After all, the coat of arms of the city is not just a beautiful picture, but a concentrated concept of existence and functioning: past and future, achieved and desired, what has already been done, and what remains to be done. Let's try to figure it out together.

The coat of arms of the city of Ashkelon is a capacious expression of the concept of a modern city with a huge history, located by the sea, combining tourism and industry, developed infrastructure and a variety of entertainment, transport opportunities and cultural life.

We see five hexagonal stars. What do they symbolize? Five-star quality and the five most significant city quarters.

A marble column with a crowning capital that protrudes beyond not only the column, but also the armorial shield, providing a plastic constructive transition to creating new reliable foundations for developing traditions and designing the future over a thousand-year history. Tomorrow is created on top of a solid foundation.

The film with the contours of a sea ship symbolizes the desire to turn Ashkelon into a movie city - the Israeli version of Hollywood. This plan is yet to be implemented.

The cogwheel symbolizes industry, economic foundations, industriousness and mobility of Ashkelon.

Sea waves symbolize a port, a beautiful embankment, city beaches, a marina - a specially equipped harbor for yachts.

Background – the blue symbolizes the sea and the azure, the clear skies of the city.

Blue sea, clear sky, the outlines of a ship, Jewish symbols on a column rising from the sea...

The city's coat of arms was painted by Ashkelon artists Mordechai Krovitsky and Shmuel Tepler, new repatriates - painting teachers who lived in the Migdal neighborhood. This coat of arms was approved in 1951.

And it is no coincidence that 70 years after the creation of the coat of arms, the mayor of Ashkelon, Tomer Glam, and the city administration set about creating a new logo and updating the image of the city, based on the same concept.

Wine City - Third Mile Estate

In a mid-fourth century AD work known as A description of the world and its people (Expositio totius mundi et gentium), it is written: "Ashkelon and Gaza…export the best wine to all Syria and Egypt".

During the Byzantine period, Ashkelon was a flourishing center for the wine trade in the Holy Land.

Wine from Ashkelon was also popular in neighboring lands: Egypt, Syria, Lebanon. The wine was exported to Europe. And it was revered from Constantinople to Britain.

One of the wall paintings in a Roman cemetery depicts a teenager picking grapes. Next to him is a basket full of grapes.

The most important trade route of antiquity passed through Ashkelon - Via Maris (translated from Latin as “seaside path”, literally “sea road”). In ancient Egypt, it was called the Way of Horus.

Winemaking was the basis of the economic existence of many people in Ashkelon and the surrounding area.

Excellent wine was produced in the city's large wineries, which were located on the territory of a facility called the "Wine City". It was a kind of industrial zone of that time, where the main industry was winemaking.

ASHKELON: traces of civilizations and many religions

The city of Ashkelon keeps traces of many civilizations and many religions.

For those who are interested in the ancient times of human history, this is the place through which people who left Africa passed before settling all the continents.

For those who are interested in the ancient history of seafaring, this is the oldest port in the world.

For the Jews, Ashkelon begins with a confrontation between the heroic judge Samson and the pagan Philistines.

The largest amphitheater in Israel

 

Ashkelon brings back to life the largest amphitheater in Israel.

It is located in the Ashkelon National Park.

Next summer - the best artists, thousands of spectators.

It was worth the wait!

Ashkelon: designing the future

Welcome to the 'Wine City' neighborhood of Ashkelon

 The ancient "Wine city" - a historic site of wine production from the Byzantine period that was unveiled in the 90s in Ashkelon, and it's intended for preservation. The new 'Wine City' neighborhood near the historic site is located on the eastern side of Ashkelon as part of the 'Roof Agreement' signed.  

The new northern promenade of Ashkelon – is worth waiting for!

 

Tomer Glam, Mayor of Ashkelon:

 "Dear residents of Ashkelon,

The new northern promenade is going to change your free time and leisure habits:

• whole miles of beautiful vantage points
• seating area
• fitness and sports facilities
• bicycle and walking routes - against the backdrop of the beautiful landscape in Israel!

 The northern promenade of Ashkelon – is worth waiting for!"

Ashkelon renews itself: modernization of infrastructures

 Ashkelon is renewed. The municipality considers upgrading the infrastructure a task of paramount importance. We don't wait for the old plumbing to explode, but anticipate a cure for the blow and replace it. We also don't wait for faults in the sewer system that cause cracks in the roads.

The Ashkelon Municipality takes responsibility for the quality of life in the city.