The city of Ashdod in Israel has a long and rich history that dates back to the Canaanite period of the Bronze Age. It is mentioned in the Bible as the city of the Philistines and was an important port in the region. Ashdod was destroyed by Sargon II of Assyria in 712 BCE, but was rebuilt by the Persians in the 6th century BCE. The city was then conquered by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE and was part of the Seleucid Empire until the Maccabean Revolt in 167 BCE.
After the Maccabean Revolt, Ashdod became part of the Hasmonean Kingdom and was later occupied by the Roman Empire in 63 BCE. During the Byzantine period, Ashdod was an important trading port and was known as Azotus Paralios. The city was conquered by the Muslims in 636 CE and was part of the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates.
In 1099, the Crusaders captured Ashdod and it was part of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem until it was taken by Saladin in 1187. After the fall of the Crusader Kingdom, Ashdod was part of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt until 1517, when it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.
During the Ottoman period, Ashdod was an important port and was known as Azot. In the 19th century, the city was part of the British Mandate of Palestine and was the site of a major port. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Ashdod was captured by Israeli forces and has remained part of Israel ever since.
Today, Ashdod is the fifth-largest city in Israel and is an important port for the country. It is home to a large population of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and is a major industrial center. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and is a popular tourist destination.