History

The history of Apollonia-Arsuf, first as a coastal settlement and later as a maritime urban centre, covers a period of approximately eighteen centuries, from the late 6th century B.C.E. through the mid-13th century C.E. Throughout that period Apollonia-Arsuf was apparently of secondary importance by comparison with Joppa, which usually served as the main harbour of Jerusalem. It was certainly smaller and less important than Caesarea, which for long periods of time served as a seat for rulers, governors, and church leaders. This seems to explain the relative scarcity of written sources concerned with the early history of the site. Nevertheless, soon after the decline of the southern neighbor site of Tel Michal, during the Persian and Hellenistic periods, Apollonia-Arsuf gradually became the main city and haven of the southern Sharon Plain. It also became the chief commercial and industrial centre of the region, which extended between Nahal (stream/river) Poleg and Nahal Yarkon.

Persian Period

It is in the context of the Persian period that Apollonia-Arsuf became a coastal urban center, under Sidonian hegemony. We learn from the tomb inscription of Eshmun‘azor II, king of Sidon of the late 6th century BCE, that the Achaemenid king, gave him the land between Dor and Joppa, most probably as tribute for the participation of his fleet during Cambyses’ and/or Darius’s campaigns to Egypt. Another historical reference that implies on the site’s administrative status is the Periplus of pseudo-Scylax (4th century BCE), stating that both Dor and Joppa are under Sidonian suzerainty. It seems thus that throughout its existence Apolloia-Arsuf was subject to the Dor Province. Being the main city and haven of the southern Sharon Plain it became the chief commercial and probably industrial centre of the region.

Persian period figurine

The Persian period settlement at Apollonia-Arsuf extends for an area of less than 20 dunams. Excavations at the site reveal two consecutive archaeological strata with a continuous occupation throughout the period. These strata contain minor architectural remains, presumably domestic in nature, in Area H and a large refuse pit in Area D. The finds from the site ensure a reliable dating for each stratum; late 6th to mid-5th for the earlier, and mid-5th to mid-4th century BCE for the latter, as imported Attic and East Greek pottery as well as Sidonian coins were found in considerable amounts.

Hellenistic Period

There is apparent continuity from the Late Persian to the Hellenistic period. Apollonia-Arsuf is first mentioned in written sources by Josephus. In his list of cities, which belonged to the Jews under Alexander Jannaeus, he mentions Apollonia between Straton's Tower (which became Caesarea under Herod the Great) and Joppa (Jewish Antiquities XIII, 15, 4, [395]). Actually, this list mentions the names of Hellenistic cities that previously belonged to Syria, Idumaea, and Phoenicia, and became part of the Hasmonaean kingdom. The source implies, then, that Apollonia was already considered an urban centre in pre-Hasmonaean times, that is, in the Hellenistic period. However, in another statement by Josephus, in which he gives the reason for building the large port of Caesarea, he explains that king Herod carried out the project because "... between Dora and Joppa, midway between which the city (of Caesarea now) lies, the coast was without a harbor so that vessels sailing along the Phoenician coast to Egypt, had to ride at anchor in the open sea, when menaced by the southwest wind" (Jewish War I, 21, 5, [409]).

The anchorage with the harbor (in the background),
looking north

From this statement, we may be led to believe that the natural anchorage of Apollonia was not regarded as a reliable all-season harbor in the Hellenistic period. However, we may assume that during good weather, as is the case throughout most of the year in this part of the Mediterranean, ships serving the coastal maritime traffic could well use the anchorage. It seems that the Hellenistic settlement at Apollonia maintained the same size as its Persian period counterpart, less than 20 dunams, since Persian period remains were usually discovered together with or nearby Hellenistic remains. A single Hellenistic stratum in Area H contains minor architectural remains of presumably domestic character and a refuse pit in Area D that is an appendage of the earlier and larger Persian period pit. Rich local and imported pottery assemblages ensure a reliable dating for the Hellenistic occupation, that is from the late 4th to late 2nd centuries BCE. The poor state of preservation of both Persian and Hellenistic strata at the site is due to the intensive building activities in later periods.