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Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Joppa is one of the oldest ancient ports on the coast of Israel. In about 1,468 B.C., Joppa was first conquered by Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III. An ancient story tells that in order to capture it, Egyptian soldiers were smuggled into the city in 200 baskets. There was still an Egyptian garrison here in the 14th and 13th centuries B.C., when the city is mentioned in the El Amarna letters. This walled city once stood over 100 above the Mediterranean on a rocky ledge.
Following the Egyptian influences in this city, the Philistines conquered this coastal town. A few centuries later, King Solomon brought timber to Joppa from the Lebanon Hills for the purpose of building his temple (II Chr. 2:16).
In the days of the Ptolemies, Joppa was granted autonomy, with the right to mint its own coins. In 144 B.C. the city was conquered by Simon Maccabeus who drove out the alien inhabitants and settled its soldiers there so that he could use it as an strategic opening to the sea (I Macc. 10:76, 12:33-34). Jewish sovereignty over Joppa was disputed for some time, but the Jews held control of this city. So important was the city for the economy of the Hasmonaean kingdom that Alexander Jannaeus struck a large series of coins with marine symbols to commemorate its conquest.
With the decline of the Hasmonaean kingdom and the subsequent conquest of Israel by Pompey in 64 B.C., Joppa was rebuilt and detached from Judea. In 30 B.C., Augustus returned the city to Herod.
Joppa is mentioned several times in the New Testament, namely, the port city from which the fleeing Jonah boarded a ship to Tarsus. Also, Joppa apparently served as an area where Peter ministered (Acts 9 and 10)
After the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D., a large Jewish community, including famous scholars, live in Joppa. It also served as an important commercial center. Tombstones of these scholars and merchants have been found.B. BIBLICAL REFERENCES
1. II Chron. 2:16 Solomon, in building the temple in Jerusalem, floats timber from the Lebanon Hills to Joppa.2. Jonah 1:3 Jonah, fleeing to Tarsus, finds a ship at Joppa.3. Acts 9:36-43 At Joppa, Tabitha (translated Dorcas), a good woman full of good works, gets sick and dies, with her body washed and placed in an upstairs room.. Peter, coming from the nearby town of Lydda, raises her. As a result, many are saved here at Joppa.4. Acts 10:5-23 Cornelius sends for Peter at Joppa to come to Caesarea. As Cornelius' men come to Joppa, they find Peter praying on the roof top. He has a vision, then goes himself to Caesarea.C. ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS OF INTEREST
Excavations in the ancient tel of Joppa, which is situated east of the Turkish port, have revealed remains of fortifications and habitations of all periods from the Bronze Age to Byzantine and Arab periods.1. LATE BRONZE: The remains of a gate of the Egyptian town of Joppa has been found. On the gate jamb a hieroglyphic inscription was also found.2. IRON AGE I & II: With excavations spread out over a large area in this region, archaeological surveys have revealed evidence of potsherds and other remains that date to the Old Testament, namely, to the time of Jonah.3. HELLENISTIC/ROMAN I: Most recently, archaeological structures dating between the 3rd century B.C. and the 2nd century A.D. have been unearthed. As these excavations continue to take place, expectations remain high that what will be revealed will be an impressive coastal city that played a significant role in providing safe harbor to Roman vessels and ships.Archeological Sites and "Regions"
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Last Updated 2/21/2011
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