Corbis

An ivory-handled dagger with bronze rivets found at Ekron shows that Philistine technology was advanced for its time and recalls the Bible’s statement that the Israelites had to go to the Philistines to have their iron tools repaired and sharpened (1 Samuel 13:19–22). In part because of the Bible’s portrayal of the Philistines as Israel’s major enemy, the term “philistine” conjures up an image of a boorish lout. As this dagger and other finely crafted objects found at Ekron show, the Philistines could boast of a rich culture.