The mirror., 1923-01-04
TREASURES FROM ASKALON
Continued from page l.

terlng temples ana palaCeS, ascending rank
above rank, from the shore to its summit,
the appearance from the sea must have
been very imposing The walls and towers
seem to have been blown to pieces by pow
der, for not even earthquakes could have
thrown the gigantic pieces of masonry
which remain into their present extraor-
dinary confusion, and so mixed them up
with the soil.
On the very summit of the bluff are
large number of granite columns which
probably belonged to the splendid temple
of Dercto, or Ashtoreth. Askalon, accord
ing to Herodotus, the historian, was famous
for her worship. She is often represented
as half woman and half fish, sort of
divine mermaid. A deep layer of broken
pottery has been dug up here, which
probably marks the remains of vessels
broken as part of the religious rites in her
honor. But so far no trace has been found
of the lake into which she plunged, ac-
cording to one story, being ashamed of
her misdeeds, and was completely trans
formed into fish. There are still sacred
fish in Palestine, though, in certain con-
secrated fountains.
"The streets of Askalon" have played
many famous role in ancient history.
Far back in 1880 B. c., we read in the
Tel-el-Amarna tablets, the native chiefs
and Dragon-worshipers who ruled the city
were paying tribute to the Khabiri, and tc
the Pharoah of Egypt. The place was
captured successivey by the great Ramescs
H., and by King Assurbanipal of Assyria.
1t came into the hands of the Jews under
the Maccabee Jonathan, brother Of Judas
Maccabaeus. Herod the Great was born
there, and spent much of his life in beau
tifying it with baths, palaces, and foun-
tains. Most of the present discoveries have
been of remains which date from the time
of Herod's rule.
The gigantic statue of this Herod, which
has just been found, serves to bring vividly
to mind this great character of antiquity,
who built here "baths and costly fountains,
as also cloisters round court, that were
admirable both for their workmanship and
largeness," as Joseph recounts. From 40
to B. c. he ruled the Jews with an iron
hand, ruthlessly numbering all whom he
considered enemies, including even the
brother of his wife Marianne. When he
left his court on a dangerous mission to
Rome he left word that in the event of his
death, Marianne should be killed also.
This jealous decree started quarrel with
his wife, which ended only when he had
her put to death. Having started his reign
in this fashion he continued in his career of
crime and lust, not hestitating even to
strangle his own sons. Religious enemies
he generally preferred to have burned
alive.
He finished his days in the most fright
full physical and mental torments, just after
ordering the massacre of the innocents in
the year of Christ's birth. The Emperor
Augustus, his friend, said of him: "It is
better to be Herods pig than his son." He
had ten wives in all, and several of these
at one time.
Great interest attaches to the report of
the finding Of the Venus statue here. 1t is
but one more of many similar pieces of
ancient sculpture that investigations around
the place have brought to light The very
earliest excavations near the site revealed
a curious bas-relief, representing the god
dess with two attendants. This Venus is
to be identified more or less with the
Assyrian Ishtar and the Phoenician Ash
toreth already mentioned the presiding
spirit of Askalon.
The most famous legend concerning her
tells of her descent into the underworld in
search of the healing waters which are to
restore to life her bridegroom Tammuz,
the young and beautiful sun god, slain by