GAZA, a principal city, and one of the five satrapies of the Philistines. It was situated about a hundred stadia from the Mediterranean, on an artificial mound, and strongly walled round. It was destroyed by Alexander the Great, and afterwards by Antiochus. Gaza is now only a large village, and is divided into two parts, called Upper and Lower, both of which, taken together, are designated Gazara. There is here, however, a considerable manufacture of cotton, and great quantities of ashes for making soap are also prepared.