Azoth, or Ashdon, one of the five cities of the Philistines, and a celebrated sea-port on the Mediterranean, situated about 14 or 15 miles south of Ekron, between that and Ascalon. It was in this city that the idol Dagon fell down before the ark; and so strong a place it was, if we may believe Herodotus, that it sustained a siege of 29 years by Pharaohnechos king of Egypt. It was, however, taken by the Maccabees in a much shorter time; who burnt both city and temple, and with them about 8000 men.