Philistine Iconography: A Wealth of Style and Symbolism

The Philistines were migrants from the Aegean and Cyprus who changed during the 12th century BC. settled on the south coast of Palestine / Israel. During the Iron Age (approx. 1200600 BC) they developed a distinguished culture. David Ben-Shlomo presents and discusses the stock of iconographic representations of Philistine culture. The investigation includes various types of objects, including Clay paintings, statues, iron carvings, glyptics. The figurative style and symbolism impressively reflect both the connection of the Philistine culture to the Aegean homeland and the ongoing process of interaction with the local guest cultures in the southern Levant. Iconography thus provides an important testimony that helps to better understand the social, ethnic, religious and ideological aspects of the Philistines and their neighbors in the eastern Mediterranean.