-
Memories, Myths, and Megalithics: Reconsidering the Giants of Gath
- Journal of Biblical Literature
- Society of Biblical Literature
- Volume 139, Number 4, 2020
- pp. 675-690
- 10.1353/jbl.2020.0039
- Article
- Additional Information
Abstract:
In this article I suggest that the biblical narratives on giants (such as Goliath) deriving from Philistine Gath, and related stories, may very likely have originated from the impressive Iron Age megalithic architecture from Tell es-Safi/Gath, which was visible, on the surface, long after the destruction of Gath. These impressive remains perhaps served as a factor in the creation of the biblical myths of peoples of large size originating in Gath.