Ancient Coin Stories

Foundation of Tell es-Sakan, which later became known as Gaza.

Local Canaanite population resettles Tell as-Sakan, later known as Gaza.

Total collapse of civilization at Gaza.

A new city is built at Tell as-Sakan, later known as Gaza.

Tell as-Sakan, later known as Gaza, is destroyed as Hyksos of Egypt is routed. The area comes under Egyptian rule.

Gaza is occupied by Philistines and is no longer under Egyptian control.

The Israelites under King David occupy Gaza.

The United Monarchy of the Israelites splits and Gaza becomes part of the Kingdom of Judah.

King Mesha of Moab references Edom in the Mesha Stele as an established neighboring kingdom, often involved in regional conflicts with Israel, Judah, and Moab.

King Kaus-malaka is in power in Edom.

Edom becomes a vassal state of the Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III, who expands his control in the Levant, forcing Edom to pay tribute.

Canaan is conquered by Tiglath-Pileser III and Gaza comes under Assyrian rule.

King Aya-ramu is in power in Edom.

King Kaus-gabri is in power in Edom, according to an Assyrian document.

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II is defeated by Egyptians near Gaza.

Following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, Edomites are said to have supported Babylon, leading to tensions with the Jews who flee southward. Many Edomites settle in the Negev.

Nebuchadnezzar II captures Jerusalem, leading to the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews.

Nebuchadnezzar II again attempts to take Egypt and fails, but does conquer Gaza.

Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, establishing Persian control over the former Babylonian Empire, which includes the Phoenician cities of Arados, Byblos, Tyre, Edom, and Sidon.

The Persian king Cambyses I is unsuccessful in his attempt to take Gaza.

Approximate date of the founding of Caesaria Maritima by Straton I of Sidon. The original name is Straton’s Tower.

Alexander the Great besieges Gaza for five months before finally taking it. He is badly wounded in the head during the encounter. He resettles the city with Bedouins.

Partition of Babylon. Abydos and Adramytteion come under control of Leonnatos. Egypt with Alexandria and Gaza are under Ptolemy. Baktria comes under Seleukos I Nikator.

Edom (by now Idumea) comes under Ptolemaic rule.

Antigonos‘s son, Demetrios I suffers a major defeat at the Battle of Gaza against Ptolemy I and Seleukos I.

During the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleukids, tensions increase between the Jewish population and Idumeans, who are caught between the Seleukids and the Hasmoneans.

John Hyrcanus I, the Hasmonean ruler of Judea, conquers Idumea and forcibly converts the Idumeans to Judaism. Idumea is formally integrated into the Hasmonean kingdom.

Alexander Jannaios besieges Gaza for a year, then kills all the inhabitants and destroys it.

Straton’s Tower (later named Caesaria Maritima) is captured by the Judean king Alexander Jannaios.

Pompey incorporates Byblos, Arados, Sidon, Yehud, Edom, and Tyre into the Roman Republic as part of the province of Syria following Rome’s annexation of the eastern Mediterranean.

The Romans declare Straton’s Tower (later Caesaria Maritima) a free city.

Gaza incorporated into the Roman Empire and rebuilt by Aulus Gabinius.

Herod the Great, of Idumean descent, is installed as king of Judea by the Romans. His rule brings stability and extensive building projects in the region, including in Idumea.

Straton’s Tower is given to Herod I, who renamed it to Caesarea Maritima in honor of Augustus.

Gaza is given to Herod I by Augustus.

Herod I begins construction of the harbor at Caesarea Maritima.

Herod the Great dies, and his kingdom is divided among his sons. Idumea becomes part of the Tetrarchy of Judea, under the control of Herod’s son Archelaus. Gaza becomes part of Syria.

Judea, including Edom, becomes a Roman province. Caesarea Maritima replaces Jerusalem as the capital.

Caesareia Maritima undergoes civil disobedience in reaction to Pontius Pilate’s order to place eagle standards on the Temple Mount.

The Jewish Revolt breaks out, supposedly due to merchants in Caesarea Maritima sacrificing birds in front of a local synagogue.

Gaza is burned by Jews during the rebellion against Rome.

Titus passes through Gaza and his way to and from Jerusalem to quell the rebellion. The city is used to sell the resulting slaves.

The Jewish Revolt is suppressed and games are held at Caesarea Maritima to celebrate Titus‘ victory.