Gaza

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Gazara, Gaza, a City of Palestine in Asia, which belonged anciently to the Tribe of Judah, as appears by the Sacred Scriptures: it was the fifth Satrapy of the Philistines, seated near the Shoars of the Mediterranean Sea, on the Confines of Idumaea, towards Egypt; Conquered by Judah, Judg. 1. 18. but not long enjoyed. Made famous by Samson. Pharaoh, King of Egypt, gave it a second Name, Gen. xlvii. 1. Alexander the Great totally ruined it. In the times of the Machabees a new Gaza arose, which in those of Christianity was made a Bishop's See, under the Archbishop of Caesarea. The Grecians finding Gaza signified a Treasury in the Persian Tongue, thought the Persians, under Cambyses, had given it this name. Alexander, the son of Aristobulus, took the New Gaza, and demolished it; but no Alexander could so ruine this City, but it would recover again. Augustus annexed this Gazara and Hippon to Syria; and in the time of Constantine the Great, it was called Constantia, from a Sister of that Prince. The Saracens possessed themselves of it in the year of our Lord 633. three years before they took Jerusalem, by whom it is now called Gaza, Gazara, and Aza. Here our Authors divide as to its present State. Baudrand saith it is little, yet divided into two parts, the Upper and Lower; and that it has a Prince of its own (though he is subject to the Turks) called the Emir, or Pacha de Gaza, who is Master of it, and the Neighbouring Country: but Jo. Bunon saith, it is great, and twice as big as Jerusalem. This City had a Port called Majuma. Our Sandys in his Travels, lib. 3. p. 116. saith, it is seated upon a Hill, environed with Valleys, and those again well nigh inclosed with Hills, most of them planted with all sorts of delicate Fruits; the Buildings mean, both for Form and Matter; the best of rough Stone, arched within, and flat on the top, &c. but none comely or convenient: yet are there footsteps of a better condition; divers simple Roofs being supported by goodly Pillars of Parian Marble, some plain, some curiously carved, and others broken in pieces, to serve for Thresholds, &c. of almost every beggarly Cottage. He tells us also, Baldwin III. King of Jerusalem, having in 1145. expelled the Saracens, he, in 1148. built here a Castle. That there lives here a Sangiack. That the Port is decayed and unsafe, and of no great benefit to the Inhabitants. There is here one ancient Church, frequented by the Coptic Christians; whether it be great or small, he saith nothing; but very rich it plainly is not. This City was taken from the Kings of Jerusalem, by Salladine, in 1171. This and all Palestine was recovered back to the Christians, by Frederick, Emperor of Germany, in 1228. Retaken by the Turks in 1234. It stands about two Miles from the Sea, and was anciently very Illustrious, as appears by its Ruines, and Marble Tombs, of which there are many. The Castle is near the Town, and has four Towers, at each corner one: it is kept in good order, and has but a small Circuit, and two Iron Gates; hard by it is the Seraglio, for the Bassa's Wives, and not far off are the Ruins of a Roman Castle. The Town is very little, but has a Besestein, (a Market-Place) in good Order, and a pretty large Greek Church. Without the Town are several goodly Mosques, faced with Marble, which I believe (saith Mr. Thevenot) belonged to the Old City. Long. 65. 26. Lat. 31. 45. //Paris Meridian was used in the book