Acre in Wikipedia
Acre (Hebrew: עַכּוֹ, Akko; Arabic: عكّا, ʻAkkā),[1] is a city
in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel and is
situated on a low promontory at the northern extremity of
Haifa Bay.
Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in
the country and historically, was regarded as a strategic
coastal link to the Levant. Acre is the holiest city of the
Bahá'í Faith.[2] As of 2007, the city had a predominantly
Jewish population of 46,000.[3]
History
[edit]Ancient period
Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in
Israel.[4] The name Aak, which appears on the tribute-lists
of Thutmose III (c. 16th century BC), may be a reference to
Acre.[citation needed] The Amarna letters also mention a
place named Akka,[5] as well as the Execration texts, that
pre-date them.[6] In the Hebrew Bible, (Judges 1:31), Akko
is one of the places from which the Israelites did not drive
out the Canaanites. It was in the territory of the tribe of
Asher. According to Josephus, Akko was ruled by one of
Solomon's provincial governors. Throughout the period of
Israelite rule, it was politically affiliated with Phoenicia
rather than the Philistines. Around 725 BC, Akko joined
Sidon and Tyre in a revolt against Shalmaneser V.[7]
Greek and Roman periods
Greek historians refer to the city as Ake, meaning "cure."
According to the Greek myth, Heracles found curative herbs
here to heal his wounds.[8] Josephus calls it Akre. The name
was changed to Antiochia Ptolemais shortly after Alexander
the Great's conquest, and then to Ptolemais, probably by
Ptolemy Soter, after the partition of the kingdom of
Alexander the Great.[9]
Old City of Acre*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party Israel
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iii, v
Reference 1042
Region** Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 2001 (25th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.
Strabo refers to the city as once a rendezvous for the
Persians in their expeditions against Egypt. About 165 BC
Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians in many battles in
Galilee, and drove them into Ptolemais. About 153 BC
Alexander Balas, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, contesting the
Syrian crown with Demetrius, seized the city, which opened
its gates to him. Demetrius offered many bribes to the
Maccabees to obtain Jewish support against his rival,
including the revenues of Ptolemais for the benefit of the
Temple in Jerusalem, but in vain. Jonathan Maccabaeus threw
in his lot with Alexander, and in 150 BC he was received by
him with great honour in Ptolemais. Some years later,
however, Tryphon, an officer of the Syrians, who had grown
suspicious of the Maccabees, enticed Jonathan into Ptolemais
and there treacherously took him prisoner.
The city was captured by Alexander Jannaeus, Cleopatra VII
of Egypt and Tigranes II of Armenia. Here Herod built a
gymnasium, and here the Jews met Petronius, sent to set up
statues of the emperor in the Temple, and persuaded him to
turn back. St Paul spent a day in Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). A
Roman colonia was established at the city, Colonia Claudii
Cæsaris.[citation needed]
After the permanent division of the Roman Empire in 395 CE,
Akko was administered by the Eastern (later Byzantine)
Empire...
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