Editing Gaza City (section)

===Roman period ===
[[File:4551 - Istanbul - Museo archeol. - Zeus - sec. II d.C. - da Gaza - Foto G. Dall'Orto 28-5-2006.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of [[Zeus]] that was unearthed in Gaza in the 20th century]]
[[Josephus]] notes that Gaza was resettled under the rule of [[Antipater the Idumaean|Antipater]], who cultivated friendly relations with Gazans, [[Ascalon]]ites and neighboring cities after being appointed governor of [[Idumea|Idumaea]] by Jannaeus.<ref name=Shatzmanp79>Shatzman, 1991, p. 79.</ref>

Rebuilt after it was incorporated into the [[Roman Empire]] in 63 BC under the command of [[Pompey Magnus]], Gaza then became a part of the [[Roman Judea|Roman province of Judaea]].<ref name="STF-J"/> It was targeted by Jewish forces during their rebellion against Roman rule in 66 and was partially destroyed.<ref name=Pataip142>Patai, 1999, p. 142.</ref> It nevertheless remained an important city, even more so after the destruction of [[Jerusalem]] during the [[First Jewish–Roman War]].<ref name="Dowling1">Dowling, 1913, p. [https://archive.org/stream/gazacityofmanyba00dowlrich#page/33/mode/1up 33]</ref> Following this, and again at the end of the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]] (132–136 CE), captives were sold into slavery in Gaza.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Harris |first=William V. |date=1980 |title=Towards a Study of the Roman Slave Trade |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4238700 |journal=Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome |volume=36 |pages=128 |doi=10.2307/4238700 |issn=0065-6801 |jstor=4238700 |quote=Slaves were sold at Gaza after the fall of Jerusalem and at the end of the Jewish rebellion in 135, and it may perhaps have been an important slaving center even in ordinary times.}}</ref>

Throughout the Roman period, Gaza was a prosperous city and received grants and attention from several emperors.<ref name="STF-J"/> A 500-member senate governed Gaza, and a diverse variety of [[Hellenistic|Greeks]], Romans, [[Phoenicia]]ns, [[Jews]], [[Egyptians]], [[Persians]], and [[Bedouin]] populated the city. Gaza's [[Mint (facility)|mint]] issued [[coin]]s adorned with the busts of [[Roman Pantheon|gods]] and [[Roman emperor|emperors]].<ref name="Doughty">{{cite web |url=http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=1958&ed=133&edid=133 |title=Gaza: Contested Crossroads |access-date=2009-01-30 |last=Doughty |first=Dick |date=November 2006 |publisher=This Week in Palestine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907165624/http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=1958&ed=133&edid=133 |archive-date=2011-09-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During his visit in 130 AD,<ref name="mah">{{cite web |url=http://www.ville-ge.ch/mah/expos/pdf/212/Gaza_timeline.pdf |title=Gaza at the crossroads of civilisations |access-date=2008-01-23 |author=Remondino |date=June 5, 2007 |work=Exhibition: Gaza at the crossroads of civilisations (27 April to 7 October 2007)|publisher=Art and History Museum, [[Geneva]], Switzerland }}</ref> Emperor [[Hadrian]] personally inaugurated [[wrestling]], [[boxing]], and [[orator]]ical competitions in Gaza's new [[Roman theatre (structure)|stadium]].{{dubious|Probably stadium, unlikely for a Roman theatre, except for oratory.|date=December 2019}} The city was adorned with many pagan temples; the main cult being that of [[Dagon#Marnas|Marnas]]. Other temples were dedicated to [[Zeus]], [[Helios]], [[Aphrodite]], [[Apollo]], [[Athena]] and the local [[Tyche]].<ref name="STF-J"/> [[Christianity]] began to spread throughout Gaza in 250 AD, including in the [[Port of Gaza|port of Maiuma]].<ref>Jennifer Lee Hevelone-Harper (1997) Disciples of the Desert: Monks, Laity, and Spiritual Authority in Sixth-century Gaza (JHU Press) {{ISBN|0-8018-8110-2}} pp 11- 12</ref><ref>Hagith Sivan (2008) ''Palestine in late antiquity'' Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|0-19-928417-2}} p 337</ref><ref>Andrea Sterk (2004) ''Renouncing the World Yet Leading the Church: The Monk-bishop in Late Antiquity'' Harvard University Press, {{ISBN|0-674-01189-9}} p 207</ref><ref>Gerald Butt (1995) ''Life at the crossroads: a history of Gaza'' Rimal Publications, {{ISBN|1-900269-03-1}} p 70</ref>
First evidence of a Bishop of Gaza is from early 4th century, when [[Silvanus of Gaza (hieromartyr)|St. Sylvan]] served in that capacity.<ref>[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06399c.htm "Gaza" from the Catholic Encyclopedia]</ref>