31/07/2024
History and culture in Kiryat Ekron: going back in time
Historical sites in Kiryat Ekron and the surrounding area - a journey through time
Considering the surrounding settlements and cities, the modern Kiryat Ekron is a relatively young settlement, only the seat of the state. This local council, which to this day contains populations from several separate regions of the world, is surely located between colonies and cities with a longer history in modern times, as a reminder of its houses and streets. But this is just an optical error. In fact, the area of Ekron was inhabited thousands of years ago by the Philistines, followed by the tribe of Dan, and there was a village called Akir until the establishment of the state.
And that's why the history and archeology enthusiasts among us definitely have something to look for here. Whether it is archaeological sites from the settlement period and even earlier, Zionist heritage sites of the modern era, or even archeology and maritime history of the area - all these and more can be found here. We will also note that in order to get to most places you need a car, so it is recommended that you have one. If you don't have one, or you don't want to travel all the time by car, you can find a car rental agency in Israel and rent a car for one day.
Credit: Zeev Stein, from the pikiwiki website
Tel Gezer National Park
At a 25-minute drive from Ekron lies one of the oldest archaeological sites in the region. Tel Gezer was an important junction in ancient times, on its sabbath very close to the connection between the sea road from north to south, and between the road from Jaffa to Jerusalem, up the Mountain Avenue. Its strategic location led to the fact that the remains of continuous settlements were found here for almost four thousand years, until the Roman period. The route on the site is relatively short, about 1.5 km, and it offers visitors the remains of water towers, a temple, a Canaanite gate and more, as well as beautiful views of the entire area.
Yad Armor Museum
If you ask any child, the most powerful military tool, the one that ignites the imagination in the strongest way - is the tank. The aura around armored personnel carriers and their tanks passes between generations, and although it has dimmed a bit in recent years, there is no doubt that the appearance of a tank is still extremely powerful. At Yad LeSharion, the memorial site and museum of the Armored Corps at Letron Junction (about a twenty minute drive from Akron), you will get a large portion of everything related to tanks and the Armored Corps. Starting with the citadel itself, where fierce battles took place, go through the changing exhibitions and of course end with the huge collection of armored vehicles, this is one of the most exciting museums out there, certainly for children. recommended.
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Credit: Dr. Avishi Teicher, from the pikiwiki website
The colony museum is a souvenir of Batia
Maybe you didn't know it, but in fact the original name of Batia's souvenir was "Ekron". Its proximity to the village of Akir and the biblical city of Ekron led to this decision. It received its current name only with the visit of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who requested that the place be named after his mother. The story of Mazkeret Batia is a story of pioneering, determination, perseverance and of course - Zionism. The moshavah, which was established on the initiative of Rabbi Shmuel Mohliber at the end of the 19th century, is a symbol to this day. In the Moshav Museum in Mezkeret Batia you can see exhibits (some permanent and some changing) that will illustrate what it means to be a pioneer, what difficulties the first immigrants faced, and what made them stay. In the generation of abundance in which we live, this look at the other lives that were here until not long ago is a sobering experience.
Beit Miriam - the Sea Museum and its entirety
The area of the mouth of Nahal Sorek and the Palmahim beach nature reserve was an important and inhabited area for many generations. The result is that a lot of archaeological finds have been dug up in this area, some of them really breathtaking. Furthermore, the extensive maritime activity in the area led to the fact that the locals found quite a few finds in the sea itself, as well as some that were washed up from it. The multitude of archaeological findings from the sea, from Nahal Sorak and the surrounding area, were gathered in the Museum of the Sea and Luo - Museum of Maritime Archaeology, in Kibbutz Palmahim (about a twenty minute drive from Ekron). The two wings of the museum include a wide variety of findings from thousands of years of history, as well as an explanation of trade routes in the Mediterranean and even content on marine ecology. This is an enriching and unusual experience, which will surely add a lot to the family trip.
Mini Israel
It is hard to find a more fascinating place for children and adults alike than Mini Israel. The famous park under the dome of heaven, which is very close to the Yad Lasharion Museum (you can definitely combine the two for a full day trip), presents to its visitors a variety of miniature models of famous sites in Israel. Especially for children, for whom everything always seems so big, it is hard to underestimate the experience of suddenly being bigger than everything. In addition, this gives children and adults a better understanding of the country, its shape and its important sites. On the site you will also find the Land of the Bible exhibit and the Temple Tent, which will connect you and the children to the Land of Israel of thousands of years ago.
