Empire Podcast – Episode 292: Ancient Gaza: From The Assyrians to The Romans (Part 2)
Hosted by: Anita Anand and William Dalrymple
Guest: Prof. Joe Quinn (University of Cambridge)
Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

This episode, the second in the Empire series on Gaza, traces the tumultuous history of Gaza from the Iron Age through to the end of the Roman period, anchored by expert commentary from Prof. Joe Quinn. The hosts, Anita Anand and William Dalrymple, along with Joe, chart the succession of powerful empires—Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks/Macedonians, and Romans—that violently contested control of Gaza. Through archaeological evidence, ancient texts, and colorful anecdotes, the episode investigates how Gaza persisted as a vibrant, mercantile city despite recurring sieges, massacres, and deportations. The discussion addresses both the destruction wrought by imperial conquest and the deep continuities of population, trade, and culture in the region.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Violent End of Philistine Gath

• The episode opens by situating listeners at a "black line" in the archaeological record—evidence of Gath’s destruction, likely by King Hazael of Aram-Damascus (~830 BCE).
  • Prof. Joe Quinn: “It’s very unusual in ancient history to actually know what happened. But this event is recorded in the Bible...King Hazael...destroyed Gath…” (03:57)
• The hosts joke about the residents of Gath being called “gits”—a playful aside on etymology. (02:49)

2. Assyrians: Masters of Siege and Deportation

• The Assyrian Empire emerges as the preeminent military power, known for its extraordinary brutality.
  • William: “The Assyrians went down...like a wolf on the fold...there’s a lot of smiting going on there. Lot of cities being besieged...people being impaled.” (04:59)
• Prof. Quinn elaborates on their innovations—postal and supply systems, mass deportations for resource exploitation, and their universalist ideology of empire.
  • Prof. Quinn: “A mule to the Assyrians was worth more than a human slave.” (06:32)
  • Anita: “Every male Assyrian owed military service. It was a completely militarized society.” (06:44)
• While Israelite cities face harsh deportations (“ten of the twelve tribes vanish from history” (09:29)), Philistine coast cities like Gaza are largely spared due to their economic value as ports, remaining as tribute vassals.

3. Babylonians: Harsher Conquests and Deportations

• The Babylonians, succeeding the Assyrians, devastate the region with more comprehensive destruction and mass deportations.
  • Prof. Quinn: “They sacked several of the cities completely. Ashkelon is absolutely razed...Ekron...completely destroyed, never rebuilt. Massive deportation campaigns.” (13:05)
• Babylonian records show local elites and skilled populations relocating to Babylon, entire cities named after captured ones (Ashkelon, Gaza).
  • Deportations were substantial but not always total, with people often fleeing to the countryside.

4. Persian Rule: Strategic Value and Local Autonomy

• After the short-lived Babylonian period, the Persian Empire incorporates Gaza, emphasizing its importance for Mediterranean naval and trade logistics.
  • Persian Gaza mints its own coins, hosts Phoenician and Greek communities, with local rulers acknowledged even under Persian satrapal system.
  • Prof. Quinn: “They do have...a Persian military governor, but the city is minting its own coins, kind of modeled on those of Athens.” (19:22)

5. Greeks (Alexander the Great) and Continued Resistance

• Alexander sweeps through the Levant in his quest against the Persians, encountering fierce resistance at Gaza:
  • Anita: “The Phoenician city of Tyre resists him...he crucifies all the survivors. This is brutal.” (27:29)
• Gaza’s defense, led by a Persian commander, is celebrated by ancient Greek historians for its bravery and unity.
  • Polybius (quoted by Anita): “They are far superior as regards acting in unison and keeping their faith...they show a courage which is irresistible.” (28:56)
• Alexander besieges Gaza for over two months, using sappers and siege towers, and ultimately overcomes it, looting its riches.
  • William: “Alexander finds Gaza just packed with all this wealthy merchandise...even the Macedonians think this is a dazzlingly wealthy place.” (31:12)

6. Ptolemaic & Seleucid Rule, Hasmonean Conquests

• With Alexander’s death, Gaza becomes a frontier in wars between his successors—falling successively to the Ptolemies (Egypt), then Seleucids (Syria/Mesopotamia).
• The Hasmonean (Maccabean) Jews, especially Alexander Janaeus, also besiege and partially destroy Gaza in their bid for territorial expansion.
  • Prof. Quinn: “Josephus says [Janaeus] has the councilmen of Gaza massacred in the temple of Apollo...completely destroys the city...but that’s unlikely, given its economic importance.” (36:38)

7. Roman Incorporation

• Pompey’s arrival (63 BCE) marks the start of Roman rule; Gaza is declared a “free city” with local autonomy and quickly flourishes again.
  • William: “Romans are a catastrophic thing for the Israelites...yet in nearby Gaza, Gazans did not suffer in the same way. Gaza continues to grow as a prosperous port.” (38:49)

8. Continuity Versus Catastrophe

• Despite devastation, the hosts and Prof. Quinn emphasize the remarkable continuity of Gaza’s population, culture, and urban identity across each imperial phase.
  • Prof. Quinn: “On a very broad genetic level, we see in the Levant as a whole...more continuity than not. Labels remain, [but] people only last 100 years at most anyway.” (40:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• William Dalrymple (On Assyrian brutality):

  • “I don't know how anyone managed to eat their dinners in these Assyrian palaces, with these disgusting pictures of impaled people wriggling on their spikes…” (05:12)

• Prof. Joe Quinn (On the effect of Assyrian conquests):

  • “Their interest in the region is to...encourage cities and trade and then skim off what they can.” (09:01)

• Prof. Joe Quinn (On Babylonians' irrational destruction):

  • “The Babylonians don’t seem to be nearly as interested in the Mediterranean end...what they’re looking for...is loot, new labor for their own heartland.” (16:12)

• William Dalrymple (On Arabs’ early presence):

  • “There is a very big misconception that the Arabs arrive...in the seventh century with Islam...in fact, you’ve got Roman emperors called ‘the Arab.’” (21:42)

• William Dalrymple (Post-Alexander’s conquest):

  • “What oil is from the Middle East today, frankincense is at this period...this is all coming through Gaza.” (39:53)

Timeline of Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|--------------------------------------------| | 01:54 | Start of main content; introduction to Gaza in antiquity and guests | | 03:38 | Evidence of Gath’s destruction by Hazael | | 04:59 | The rise and nature of the Assyrian Empire | | 08:36 | Philistine cities under Assyrian rule | | 11:51 | The Babylonian conquest and its violence | | 15:12 | Continuity and recovery under the Babylonians and Persians | | 18:32 | Persian rule and its features (local autonomy, Phoenician presence) | | 20:53 | Early references to Arabs in Gaza | | 26:28 | Greeks/Macedonian conquest: Alexander besieges Gaza | | 33:20 | After Alexander: Ptolemaic, then Seleucid domination | | 35:12 | Hasmonean conquest and another siege | | 37:23 | Rome takes Gaza under Pompey, city’s continued prosperity | | 40:55 | Discussion on genetic and cultural continuity despite repeated conquests | | 41:33 | Summary and set-up for the next episode |

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a lively, anecdotal, and accessible tone, mixing scholarly insight with humor and vivid analogies (e.g., “there’s a lot of smiting,” “the city is always being besieged”). Prof. Joe Quinn provides clear, concise explanations, often referencing archaeological and textual evidence. Key ancient sources—Herodotus, Polybius, Josephus—are invoked to bring out how Gaza’s historical resilience was both admired and recorded.

Conclusion

Despite the relentless pattern of conquest and destruction from empire after empire, Gaza’s mercantile and urban traditions persist, evidenced by archaeological continuity and ancient testimony. The episode’s parting message resists narratives of total rupture, instead highlighting Gaza’s enduring importance and the deep-rooted ties of its people to the land.

Next Episode Teaser: The series continues with Gaza’s transformation under late Roman and early Byzantine rule, when the city rose to intellectual prominence, rivaling even Alexandria.