Image Details

COLLECTION OF THE ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY/PHOTO © THE ISRAEL MUSEUM, JERUSALEM BY YORAM LEHMANN

DISTINCTLY PHILISTINE. The Philistines created and used a distinct assemblage of artifacts—from everyday objects, such as pottery and loom weights, to special objects, like weapons and religious paraphernalia. The ceramic figurine above dates to the early Iron Age and measures about 7 inches in height. It resembles a chair with a female torso and head as its back. Archaeologists call this figure an Ashdoda, after the Philistine city of Ashdod where it was first identified.