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Temple complex 650 at Ekron, dating to the seventh century B.C.E., is one of the largest buildings of its kind ever excavated in modern-day Israel. The nearly 26,000-square-foot structure is three buildings in one: In the first, a series of rooms surrounded a large open courtyard ; the second consisted of a long hallway that served as a reception or throne room (the throne would have sat on the raised platform on the near end of the hallway); and the third structure was a columned sanctuary (photo) that had a Holy of Holies at its far end.

Like so much else at Ekron, Temple 650 testifies to a mixture of cultures. The throne room is typical of Assyrian architecture and the sanctuary reflects Phoenician design, but the round column bases are an indication of Philistine construction.