DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27910#0031
GAZA, THE OLD TOWN.
AZA lies near the sea-coast, in N. lat. 31° 29', E. long. 34° 29', near the border of
Egypt. It was one of the five Philistine cities, and therefore holds an important place
in Biblical history. In the division of the Promised Land it was assigned to the tribe of
Judah, which captured it, but apparently did not destroy its inhabitants. From this time
we lose sight of it until it is mentioned in the history of Samson. In his days it seems
to have been the chief city of the confederacy. Here it was that he' carried away the
doors of the city-gate, when the people had shut him in. The supposed remains of this gate are
shown, but their identity may well be doubted. To Gaza was Samson brought in his weakness, and
here he overthrew the house of Dagon, and slew more in his death than he had in all his life. After
this calamity the place seems to have lost its importance, and to have yielded to Gath: it appears, however,
to have remained a Philistine city during the whole period of the monarchies of Israel and Judah. Its doom
is foretold by the prophets, whose predictions seem to have been markedly fulfilled at the capture by Alexander
the Great, after a two months’ siege. On subsequent occasions the Asmonean princes attacked and injured it,
so that it sank into a position of insignificance until the time of the Crusades.
There is nothing more melancholy than the existence of a place, while its ancient inhabitants have
become extinct. Gaza is still a city, but the Philistines have disappeared. We may say of it, as does Milton
in the grand poem of which the scene is laid here—
“ Gaza yet stands, but ali her sons are fallen.”
Of that small but warlike people that could successfully contend with the whole body of the Israelites, not
a remnant exists; nor are there any monumental records of their former power. They have utterly perished, and
are as if they had never been. Palestine has for ages been the battle-field between the rulers of Egypt and
Syria. The Philistine territory, standing as an outpost towards Egypt, has especially suffered, and every trace
of its distinct population has been effaced.
Like all the Philistine towns, Gaza is pleasantly situate in a rich country, and it has gardens within and
around it. The view displays this fertility in singular contrast with the ruin and desolation of the town. Many
gardens may be seen, those in the foreground partly hedged with the prickly pear. The number of palms and
of other trees within the walls is very unusual in an oriental town. The buildings are picturesque, without
any high degree of architectural merit. The tower of the mosque to the right is, however, somewhat
remarkable in its style, and, without its modern top, is superior to the usual works of Muslim architecture
in Palestine. The gateway to the left of the mosque is an interesting object, with the look-out window
above, and, within, the extreme darkness which is very characteristic of Eastern streets. The lantern to the
left is a beautiful object, although in a very ruined state: it probably belongs to a private house.
AZA lies near the sea-coast, in N. lat. 31° 29', E. long. 34° 29', near the border of
Egypt. It was one of the five Philistine cities, and therefore holds an important place
in Biblical history. In the division of the Promised Land it was assigned to the tribe of
Judah, which captured it, but apparently did not destroy its inhabitants. From this time
we lose sight of it until it is mentioned in the history of Samson. In his days it seems
to have been the chief city of the confederacy. Here it was that he' carried away the
doors of the city-gate, when the people had shut him in. The supposed remains of this gate are
shown, but their identity may well be doubted. To Gaza was Samson brought in his weakness, and
here he overthrew the house of Dagon, and slew more in his death than he had in all his life. After
this calamity the place seems to have lost its importance, and to have yielded to Gath: it appears, however,
to have remained a Philistine city during the whole period of the monarchies of Israel and Judah. Its doom
is foretold by the prophets, whose predictions seem to have been markedly fulfilled at the capture by Alexander
the Great, after a two months’ siege. On subsequent occasions the Asmonean princes attacked and injured it,
so that it sank into a position of insignificance until the time of the Crusades.
There is nothing more melancholy than the existence of a place, while its ancient inhabitants have
become extinct. Gaza is still a city, but the Philistines have disappeared. We may say of it, as does Milton
in the grand poem of which the scene is laid here—
“ Gaza yet stands, but ali her sons are fallen.”
Of that small but warlike people that could successfully contend with the whole body of the Israelites, not
a remnant exists; nor are there any monumental records of their former power. They have utterly perished, and
are as if they had never been. Palestine has for ages been the battle-field between the rulers of Egypt and
Syria. The Philistine territory, standing as an outpost towards Egypt, has especially suffered, and every trace
of its distinct population has been effaced.
Like all the Philistine towns, Gaza is pleasantly situate in a rich country, and it has gardens within and
around it. The view displays this fertility in singular contrast with the ruin and desolation of the town. Many
gardens may be seen, those in the foreground partly hedged with the prickly pear. The number of palms and
of other trees within the walls is very unusual in an oriental town. The buildings are picturesque, without
any high degree of architectural merit. The tower of the mosque to the right is, however, somewhat
remarkable in its style, and, without its modern top, is superior to the usual works of Muslim architecture
in Palestine. The gateway to the left of the mosque is an interesting object, with the look-out window
above, and, within, the extreme darkness which is very characteristic of Eastern streets. The lantern to the
left is a beautiful object, although in a very ruined state: it probably belongs to a private house.