Ashkelon
City on the southern coast of Palestine, between Magdalgad and Gaza.
Inhabitants or Natives[edit | edit source]
Ananias of Ascalon, Ermasteus.
Description[edit | edit source]
"A beautiful sea town [...] stretched along the coast above a semilunar rocky barrier beyond which sands have been carried by storms and blown by winds."[1]
"[...] they enter Ashkelon along the road of the double porch, which goes straight to the centre of the town. The town is an imitation of Rome, with fountains and basins, squares in the style of the Forum, towers along the wall and Herod’s name everywhere [...]"[2]
Notable Events[edit | edit source]
The apostles spread out in the city to preach each in his own style. Judas is driven out with stones following a particularly harsh sermon. John converts Hermastée, a fisherman who becomes a disciple.
Its Name[edit | edit source]
Other names or spellings: Askalon - Asheqelôn - Tel Ascalon, Tel Ashqelon, Ashqelon, 'Askalan, Askalon, Askelon, 'Asqalan, 'Asqelon.
Where is it mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
- GRM 218: "A beautiful sea town is about two miles away, stretched along the coast above a semilunar rocky barrier beyond which sands have been carried by storms and blown by winds. And the rocks of the barrier, now that the water recedes at low tide, appear here as well, compelling thus the apostles to walk on the dry sand in order not to cut their bare feet on the sharp rocks. 'Where is the entrance to the town, my Lord? I can only see a very solid wall from here. It is not possible to enter by sea. The town is in the inner most spot of the gulf'[3] says Philip."[1]
- GRM 219: The various sermons of the apostles in the marketplace. The texts of the prophets can become Calls to conversion or anathemas, according to the orator.
More about this place[edit | edit source]
One of the five main cities of the Philistines. Birthplace of Herod the Great who beautified it. His sister Salome resided there.
The shallot originates from Asheqelôn and takes its name from it.
Excerpt from the Geographical Dictionary of the Gospel According to Maria Valtorta, by Jean-François Lavère:
It describes (...) the scattered houses along the deep arc that forms the coast, not a gulf, but a true arc »,[1][3] which seems contradictory with the current straight coastline. Yet historian G. Maspero[4] confirms the ancient existence of a bay now completely silted up.The apostles approach the city by the coast, coming from the south. "'Where is the entrance to the town, my Lord? I can only see a very solid wall from here",[1] asks Philip. It is only from 1985 that the excavations led by L. Stager have enabled the discovery of the remains of the imposing city wall (2.4 km long). The apostles go around the wall to enter through "the easter town gate".[5] It is the gate archaeologists now call the "Jerusalem gate".
"The road proceeds straight and becomes really artistic, with a shady porch on each side, supported by marble columns".[5] The excavations of the site surely still hold many surprises.
Another remarkable fact:[6] Maria Valtorta observes stray dogs in the middle of the road. Everywhere else, in Judea, this would be unthinkable because the dog was considered an unclean animal. However, precisely in Ascalon, the 1986 discovery of a dog cemetery surprised the scientific community, which still questions its exact meaning.
Explore[edit | edit source]
31°39’48’’N/34°32’52’’E/+25m
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 GRM 218.1.
- ↑ GRM 218.6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 In the English translation, the word 'gulf' is used. However, the original Italian version employs 'arco', which literally means an arc or a curve.
- ↑ G. Maspero, History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria, vol. 4, part. B
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 GRM 218.3.
- ↑ The Valtorta enigma, volume 2, § The evangelization in Ascalon and surroundings