Mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, it could have been named after someone's son or someone's mother. It was conquered by a Pharaoh using techniques similar to that of the Trojan Horse saga. With connections to a well known marine mammal story, it was also the setting for a certain King's treasures. Where is this place, and what does it have to do with a term used in an English sport?

lanfranco

My, this is complicated, isn't it? O.K., this is Jaffa, which could have been named after one of the sons of Noah or after Cassiopeia. Thutmose III is said to have conquered the place by putting warriors in baskets and presenting them as a gift, and Jonah embarked for Tarshish from Jaffa. As for treasure, the riches from the sea in the area are said to have increased Solomon's wealth, but that may not be what you had in mind. A "jaffa" is supposedly an unplayable ball in cricket. I really wouldn't know. Did I miss anything? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaffa,_Israel Mar 24 06, 4:42 PM

peasypod

They say convolution is a virture, yes? Nice One Frankie, yes Solomon was the one I was after. One Jewish legend says that 'all the sunken treasure in the world flows toward Jaffa, and in King Solomon's time the sea offered great riches'. Then there's that unmentionable pejorative side of jaffa.....moving right along, that's a yay Frankie! Mar 24 06, 5:01 PM

JoshCaleb12

Gee, and I always wondered where the "Jaffa" of Stargate SG-1 fame got their name... Mar 24 06, 9:50 PM

Arpeggionist

In the original Hebrew it is properly transliterated and pronounced "Yafo". It is mentioned again as the city where Jonah takes a ship to go to Tarshish. Jaffa (Yafo) oranges are quite famous for their fine quality today. The city of Yafo was still there in 1948, populated mostly by Arabs. In 1948 the mayor of Tel Aviv decided that the city limits would be extended to include Yafo, and the two cities have been connected by name ever since (it is properly known as Tel Aviv-Yafo). Yafo today is a historic neighborhood in Tel Aviv, whose docks still enjoy prosperity and the zest of life. The fish markets and restaurants there are quite good. The name of the city bares no connection whatsoever to Noah's son. Mar 25 06, 4:08 PM