"PHILISTINE GRAVEYARD UNCOVERED" Topic

Subject: ArchaeoHistories on X: "PHILISTINE GRAVEYARD UNCOVERED – For centuries, skeptics claimed the Philistines of the Bible were little more than mythology invented by Israelite storytellers. Yet in 2013, archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Ashkelon uncovered one of the most important biblical t.co/JfH4KkSd97 / X


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I saw the Philistines wearing the proper helmet in Samson and Delilah. 👍

I thought the finding interesting, especially since confirmed the origins of the philistines.

So evidence confirming the likelihood they were part of the "sea peoples"? Very cool. Years ago, I had purchased 15mm Israelite and Philistine armies from Venezia. They even had David and Goliath sculpts and Goliath was closer to 20mm. Cool stuff.

Great article. Thanks for the link.

Welcome. 👍

Nice. Harvard expedition, here are their press releases and a video:
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👍

As long as they stay out of my favorite art museums…

I've actually been to a Philistine site in Ashkelon. Local tradition had it as the site of Samson's death and destruction of the Philistine temple. That was 40 years ago— not much dig work was going on then. Wonder how it relates to this site and find?

Thanks for the link.

Poor Philistines. I didn't realize their existence was controversial.

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" I didn't realize their existence was controversial."

It isn't.

Philistines known as historical?
Since the 19th century, thanks to Egyptian inscriptions.

Archaeologically confirmed?
Solidly by the mid to late 20th century.

Identified as Sea Peoples?
Likely since scholars connected them with the Egyptian Peleset; now strongly supported, though not 100% certain.

I think perhaps the big deal of this is that these burials establish a definitive origin of the Philistines? Most theories are unclear as to what racial/cultural group they were, especially as they ceased to exist as a racial group of any sort well before even Roman times. Were they Aegean Greeks? Levant Greeks? Hittite relatives? An unknown Semitic group? There are a *lot* of Biblical references to the Philistines, but were these of an actual coherent group, or different groups sort of "lumped" into one big enemy for narrative purposes? Finding actual remains which must be Philistines (and not someone else) would thus be a "Big Deal." But that's just me speculating on that— I'm certainly no expert on any of it!

Parz, yes that is what I read in the original link and those other links supplied as well. This was also the first "large" gravesite to prove it as well, if I read it correctly.

German 19th skepticism infiltrated many facets of Biblical scholarship. We are still digging our way out from under its influence. The Bible is not history, per se, but its historical underpinnings are showing amazing resilience.