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Show L THE SALT LAKE T HI P. UN E SUNDAY MORNING; NOVEMBER 14, 192G Palestine Exploration Society Excavating: the-- . Wicked Old Bible 'City to Find Out What Were the Wanton Iniquities That Made the Lord Warn, Threaten Ascalon in the Scriptures and Finally Punish ' Those Ancient Voluptuaries Statue of. the Greek Goddess of Good Luck Found in Ascalon. . Tell lOrot-i- n Galhj publish it not in the street of t Ascalon; lest' the daughters ofthe Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcisetf' triumph. II. Samuel, ., to. K t Then took I the cup at the Lords hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me: And all the mingled people, and all the .kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ascalo n. Jeremiah, xxv ' . --Jit , . I i-cCS 17-2- 0. nt - t ?! Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ascalon is cut off with of their valley. Jeremiah, xlvii., 5. rt 4rv 1, 4 - ' kwi V liTSJS 'A, , v. r liV i A A ! g-yj- How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and against the sea shore? Jere. miab, xlvii., 7. ! f-- ' . And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashbod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ascalon, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saiih the Lord. Amos, ., 8. a assaZf w For Gaza shall be forsaken,' and Atfcalon a desolation. Zephaniah, 'a, 'A t4 ;,,a J v v, A? -- ( e i f'WVY ., 4. Ascalon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall he and Ascalon ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, v shall not be inhabited. Zechartah, ix., 5. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. Judges, xvi., it-1- long lost city of burled for cen turies on the shore of the Mediterranean, is rapidly being restored to the world When the last of the tons of dirt and debris which cover Its ruins have been removed we shall have the most Interesting possible evidence of the luxury, , the splendor and the wild gayety which lured the mighty Samson, the, beautiful Delilah, and so many other people of Old Testament days to the streets of Afcalon, end which made the city, in the eyes of the pious leaders of Israel, the srfmarx L symbol of v, wickedest. wwSij.wp Of all the ancient cities Remains of the Crusaders whose memory has cotOe Church at Ascalon. . I; down to ns from Biblical f is none name of times, the more familiar than that of Ascalon. It was, show us why this strange people we know, one of the chief cities of Phil-lstiand it is frequently mentioned In the were able to story of the fong struggle between Israel struggle so sucwith snd the Philistines, which fills the pages cessfully of the Old Testament. One of the best .srael for suknown of the references to It Is that which premacy. Within a few months now King David made In his memorable lamenwe shall know tation over the death of Saul and Jonathan' we more In the Tell It not Gath, sang than: Vttw&d before did Asever streets of In not It the publish King, V the concerning calon; lest the daughters of the Philistines Ascalon of city rejoice. Since King Davids day many other and as to why It poets have sung to us about Ascalon. The was so Interestcitys fame has formed a theme for Robert ing to Samson, Delilah and the W. Chambers and other well known novelists. And yet, although for nearly thirty many other Old Testament characters who centuries the name has been almost a so frequently trod Its streets. Samson seems to have been especially household word, we have known Surprisof Philistine women, and It may very fond was Ascalon what of little really ingly probdbly have been in the pleasure-lovinlike, and why it was that God threatened city of Ascalon that he met some of those and finally punished it What manner of city was Ascalon? who charmed him. In eplte of his first What were the streets like through which unfortunate experience with a Philistine David feared to have the news of Israels wife, he Boon married another native of sorrow spread? What sort of temples and the same country, the alluring Delilah. She stores, palaces and humble proved even more sadly lacking In the theatres, homes lined its stately (.avenues? Just qualities a good wife should have than his what was it that made Ascalon a place so first partner and, as the Bible tells us, she lemarkable that Its fame has lasted for lost no time in betraying him to the Philmore than thirty centuries? Dd It de- istines. The Old Testament states that Delilah serve its reputation for wickedness or were Israele leaders tempted by their was from the Valley of Sorek. It was in Gaza that she stole away Samson's strength jealousy of Phllistias power to spread after learning that the secret of It lay in false reports about the citys lack of his hair, and it was there that Samson Gaza was only morals, and about the disgraceful orgies was placed In prison. miles south of Ascalon what that were said to mark its worship of the twelve would be called In our day easy commutfish goddess, Derceto? In Samons time means of ing distance, Very soon now we shell doubtless he communication between the two cities was able to answer these questions and many far from difficult, and their inhabitants others which have arisen in the minds of were constantly visiting back and forth. It la probable that Samson was a famtllar every Bible student concerning this historic place. The ruins of Ascalon are figure on the slreeta of Ascalon' knd that being uncovered and the work of exploring Dellah also went there with him to Jotn them has been begun by the Palestine in the great festivals for which the PhilisExploration Fund, under the leadership of tines were famous. Professor John Garstang, director, of excaThis Is why students of Old Testament vation. Already the pillars of the famous history are watching with such keen Interest the excavation of the ruins of AscaTemple of Fortune have been revealed, together with many other interesting relics lon. The excavators are hot upon the trail of the high development of Grecian art to of Bamson and with any stroke' of their which the people of Aecalon had attained. spades they may bring to light new facts As the patient excavators dig deeper concerning this extraordinary man facts and doeper Into the ruins It is expected even more surprising than hts that they will isy bare the reel seeret of perhaps pulling down of the temple pillars on the the wonderful Philistine- - civilization and heads of tla tormentors. , t THU of Victory With Nike: Her Feet Resting on the Earth, Which Is Supported by Atlas-Fou- rteen Feet High. Bas-Reli- g Great White Way, so the youths of Israel were continually urged to avoid the alluring creatures who made the streets of Ascalon gay. One of the things most hoped for from the excavation of the ruins of Ascalon is the finding of evidence that will show just how well founded was this belief of the leaders of Israel in the city's corrupting ft was. as the prophets of Israel claimed, abominably wicked A great statue of Victory, splendid Corinthian columns and other relics which have already been fount In the ruins of Ascalon show that befort Its downfall the city had attained a degree of artistic magnificence almost rivalling that of Athens and Rome. The excavators have brought to light a Influence. architectural statue of Fortune splendid Pillars of the j A chief reason for the hatred which which, like the imposing figure of Victory Temple of Israel had for the Philistines lay In their standing on the Earth, already mentioned, M. Fortune. These Is known to have existed in Turkish times. worship of strange gods. The .Philistines were closely related to the Phoenicians In digging out these two.works of art they Are Similar to them were a like and also found a small statue In white marble seafaring people they the Very Granite chose fish gods and goddesses as being of a kneeling girl whose existence was not Columns of the the sort of deities most likely to protect suspected. This is a piece of sculpture of Temple Which them from the perils of the sea. such high quality that It has excited genSamson Tore will be brought to light In eral admiration and given that Nothing extraordinary . ' the ruins of Ascalon will be more inter- enthusiasm to further search of thbse hisDown in His esting than the temple and sacred lake of toric ruins. Rage. f-Derceto, the fish goddess, which are kn'own The great wealth which the Philistines to have existed there. The worship of gathered through their commerce and their Derceto was attended by the most lasciv- wars, and the fact that Ascalon was a seaV .A . ious practices, much like those of the port. whero were gathered men and women ,v F Greeks in the temples and groves of Aphro- of all nations, combined tomake Its streets dite and of the Romans in their homage a byword for all that was wicked and to Venus. worldly and wanton. Undoubtedly dissiilil rPhlllstia was long a pation ran riot there and furnished abungreat power In the dant opportunity for the young men of ancient world. The Israel to sow their wild oats. it was to AscaPhilistines gave battle The city of Ascalon Is believed to be lon that Samson not only to Israel, hut more than 3,000 years old. went after he had Already the 9 to mighty Egypt, as the preliminary explorations of propounded ll 8 its. ruins have Tel Amarna tablets and disclosed both Christian and Jewish emfamous riddle and, other records testify. blems, as well as some early Mohemmedan allowed his brido The name Palestine, remains. Under the Arab rule In the tenth to wheedle out of still given to the counhim the answer century Its opulence Increased, and It was t v7. try where they lived. famous all over the world for the splendor to it . Out of the Is only a derivation of Its mosques and great markets. eater came forth During from their own name. the Crusades It waa a place of meat, en4 out of great , From the time when strategic Importance; and It was the strong came this fact K X Jz'v the Israelites took pos- that led to its final ruin. Rather than let forft sweetness" session of the Promised the city fall Into the hands of Richard that, as every the under Joshua they Lion Hearted, Salndln hastened to Land I Ascalon Sunday school dread constant were in and himself supervised the work of depupil should reof their neighbors, stroying the city. It Is doubtful If call, was the ridmuch The If any of It was ever rebuilt. the Philistines. dle. Samsons Samuel from A few months after the arrival of the wife promptly prophets, Ancient Roman Bastion Excavated in Ascalon. The Old Mortar Still to Zechariah, were alconfided the an- Retains Its Immense Strength. English army a treaty was made with ways Inveighing against swer to her Phil- the corrupting in- Baladln and the fortifications of the city ibtlne friends, and thus enabled them to the inhabitants to subjection, as they had fluence of Ascalon and urging their people were once more, by mutual consent and to have nothing to do with Its beautl even destroyed. In the year win the bet which be made that his conbeen able to do under Goliath. ful sirens or with the heathen gods whom 1240 Richard of Cornwall tried once again undrum could not be answered. cruel This domination of Israel by the to wall this Important base, but Ascalon they worshipped In such shocking manner. was Ramson was angry, and when he reached Philistines had been brought to an end waa freely prophesied that the Lord dying and thirty years later the Sultan It I malon the great fighter promptly killed a brave shephed- - faced- Goliath would punish the Philistines for their PI bars Issued the last decree of fate npoi-thwhen town. Since that day the city has thirty men and took their clothing to and that single-handeand killed him with a blow sins by desolating theirdidcities him for the loss of his bet. This come true the malned In the silence and desolation from these finally prophecies from his sling. The shepherd lad who laid Is the only case on record whore the exruins now being excavated are a pathetlo which the spades of the excavator are pense of a wager fell on Its winners. now trying to reclaim It. the redoubtable giant low was the same witness. , The cities of Gath and ARcalon, menDavid who- later cried a warning against Thus, by the hand of a Mohammedan It Is not certain Just where the Philisv. tioned by King David In his lamentation, the Icked streets of Ascalon." was fulfilled the prophecy made tines came from to Palestine Some scholwere the chief centres of Philistine clvllt Phlllstia was for many generations a ars claim they dime from the Island of by Zephantnh centuries before, when he cation. He spoke of them, as he did be- serious thorn in the side of Israel. And Crete; others believe that they emigrated aid. "For Gan shall be forsaken and cause he knew that their Inhabitants would what the people of Israel dreaded most of from the region around the ancient city of a desolation." The excavat'one now be filled with rejoicing If they heard of ali from this constant threat of domin- Troy. Wherever the place of their origin, In progress are expected to reveal some the misfortune that had befallen Israel la ation by (heir neighbors was the degrading it ts certain that they established in Asca- of the facta which may have Justified the the death pf Saul and hi eon Jonathan. influence of Philistine women upon their lon and the other cities which they built Israelite prophets In praying so earnestly The Philistines would think that now they men. Just as the young men of are on the Mediterranean 'poast a civilization to their God to wreak a terribla TcDgoanc ould be able to overrun Israel and reduce warned (0 beware the vampires of the that waa rich and wonderful, even though on Aacalon and Its people. Samson, Betrayed Into the Hands of the Phillistines by His Leering Sweetheart Delilah, From the Painting by Solomon in the Walker Gallery, Liverpool. a, ef - c C- rfyA - com-pepva- - to-da- y C) 1010, International Feature Service, lue. Great Drlteia Blchle E ewrveS. j |