Armies of the Philistines 1175–604 BC

This fully illustrated volume describes and illustrates the Philistine warriors who confronted Israel, Assyrian, Egyptian and Babylonian armies in nearly six centuries of warfare.The confederation of city-states known as Philistia, located on Canaan’s southern Mediterranean coast, originated with the settlement of Greek immigrants in about 1175 BC. Here, the authors trace the evolution of Philistine military methods and organization, revealing the colourful appearance of these formidable warriors over nearly six centuries of conflict in the Ancient Near East.Known above all for their confrontations with the Israelites and other Canaanite peoples, the Philistines also interacted with Egypt, Assyria and Babylonia. Although at times they dominated their Israelite neighbours, the Philistines were eventually subjugated and then annexed by the Assyrians. Philistia was then briefly occupied by the Egyptians before being devastated by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar’s emerging Babylonian Empire.In this book, Raffaele D’Amato and Andrea Salimbeti draw upon the latest scholarship and archaeological findings to describe and depict the warriors of this fascinating civilization. Illustrated with photographs and drawings of surviving artefacts and imagery, this absorbing account also features eight newly commissioned colour plates.