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.

Hiram I of Tyre aids in the construction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

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

Omri defeats the usurper Zimri and becomes king of Israel, with its capital at Samaria.

Samaria becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Israel.

Approximate construction of the first palace at Samaria.

Ahab, son of Omri, becomes king of Israel, with its capital at Samaria.

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.

Death of the unpopular king Ahab. His son Ahaziah takes the throne in Samaria and continues his ways.

Ahaziah dies in Samaria after falling from a roof. Jehoram becomes king of Israel.

Jehoram dies from an arrow wound. Jehu becomes king of Israel, with its capital at Samaria.

Death of Jehu in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz becomes King of Israel.

Death of Jehoahaz, King of Israel. Jehoash takes the throne in Samaria.

Death of Jehoash. Jeroboam II becomes king at Samaria.

A major earthquake damages Samaria.

Death of Jeroboam II at Samaria. Zechariah becomes King of Israel.

Zechariah rules for six months before Shallum kills him and takes the throne in Samaria.

Shallum is executed by Menahem, who takes the throne at Samaria.

King Kaus-malaka is in power in Edom.

Death of Menahem at Samaria. His son Pekahiah becomes King of Israel.

Pekahiah is assassinated by one of his chief military officers, Pekah, who takes the throne in Samaria as King of Israel.

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.

Pekah is assassinated by Hoshea, a captain in his army, in Samaria. Hoshea becomes the last King of Israel.

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

Samaria is captured by the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

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.

Samaria is destroyed by Alexander III.

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. Asandros obtains Caria. Laomedon receives Koele-Syria.

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. Peithon is killed.

Demetrios Poliorketes defeated at the Battle of Gaza by Ptolemy I Soter and Seleukos I Nikator.

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.

John Hyrcanus destroys Samaria.

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 rebuilds Samaria.

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.

Vespasian has control over all of Judea except Jerusalem.

Soldiers in Judea proclaim Vespasian Emperor.

Vespasian departs Judea for Rome and leaves his son Titus in charge.

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

The Roman army under Titus begins the Siege of Jerusalem.

The Roman army under Titus overwhelms the defenders of Jerusalem and sets fire to the Temple.

Titus celebrates victory games at Caesarea Maritima.

Berenice, the sister of the Judean king Agrippa II, moves in with Titus as his promised wife. He sends her away after an uproar.

Diocletian orders the tongue of the deacon Romanus of Caesarea removed for interrupting sacrifices.

Julian II allows Jews to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem, but fires break out that stop the project.

The author and his wife visit Jerusalem.

The author and his wife stop at Caesarea Maritima.