Philistines

Philistines was a state in Levant (Middle East) that lasted from c. 1175 to 604 BCE, about 571 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Sea Peoples of Aegean origin who settled the southern coast of Canaan in a league of five cities. Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Ashkelon in 604 BCE and the Philistines disappear as a people.

See Philistines on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 1175 to 604 BCE
Duration: 571 years
Type: State
Region: Levant, Middle East
Language family: Unknown or undeciphered
Capital: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath

Events in Middle East during its time

1050 BCE Phoenician alphabet
853 BCE Battle of Qarqar
722 BCE Assyria conquers Samaria
612 BCE Fall of Nineveh

Neighbours in Middle East

Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE
Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
Phoenician city-states c. 1200 to 332 BCE
Middle Assyrian Empire 1365 to 912 BCE
Kassite Babylonia c. 1595 to 1155 BCE
Middle Elamite period c. 1500 to 1100 BCE
Kingdom of Judah c. 930 to 587 BCE
Urartu c. 860 to 590 BCE
Kingdom of Israel c. 930 to 720 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Shang dynasty c. 1600 to 1046 BCE, East Asia
New Kingdom of Egypt c. 1550 to 1069 BCE, North and West Africa
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe

Questions

When did Philistines exist?

c. 1175 to 604 BCE, about 571 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Philistines?

Levant, in Middle East. Its capital was Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, Gath.

What language did Philistines speak?

Unknown or undeciphered. This family includes Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages.