Peleset, Philistine, and the Etymology of the Holy Land

posted on: Nov 2, 2020

By: Emily Tain/Arab America Contributing Writer

The etymology of the name Palestine is debated among scholars of the Ancient Near East. After combing through a variety of sources, it is easy to understand why coming to a conclusion can be difficult.

Peleset

The most sound connection is to the word ‘peleset,’ represented as ‘p-r-s-t’ in hieroglyphs (transliterated). Peleset was first mentioned in 1150 BCE within an inscription from the twentieth dynasty of Egypt, referring to Peleset as a neighboring group or area. Later, the temple at Medinet Habu shows that the Peleset had previously been at war with Egypt. Though mentioned in writing by both the Egyptians and the Assyrians, Peleset was never given a designated boundary line. The Peleset could also be connected to the Sea Peoples. These were an unknown union of tribes acknowledged in Egyptian and Assyrian inscriptions. 

Herodotus and Greek Influence

The word Palestine is thought to have appeared first in Herodotus’ “The Histories” as a replacement for the term Canaan. Written in the 5th century BCE, ‘Palaistine’ (Παλαιστινη) is referred to as a district of Syria. Herodotus used Palaistine to reference both the inland and the coastal regions. A handful of Roman, Greek, and Hebrew writers adopted the term in their writing after “The Histories.” Palaistine, however, is not found on any sort of official coinage or inscriptions from the Hellenistic period. Many conclude that the name Palestine originates from this text and that the region was referred to as something else by those inhabiting it.

Philistine

A differing argument involves the Philistines, known in the Old Testament as a neighbor and enemy of the Israelites. The Philistines’ origin is not entirely clear; both the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint insinuate that the Philistines are Greek or southern European migrants. A study released in 2019 states that, after testing DNA from an ancient Philistine burial site in Ashkelon, early Iron Age subjects were distinguished from later Iron Age subjects due to “a distinct European-related admixture.” Before and after this period, subjects were found to be a part of the local Levantine gene pool, insinuating that the immigrants were marrying into the Levantine population. Additionally, the pottery associated with the Philistines is strikingly similar to ancient Greek pottery. The Philistines also used an Aegean script rather than a Semitic one. 

Uncertainty and Lack of Distinction

Multiple sources agree that the Philistines lived in the greater region of Palestine. When looking at the first archaeological evidence, however, the two groups seem to be either equivocated or confused. For example, in this Britannica article, the writers claim that the ‘p-r-s-t’ found in inscriptions at Medinet Habu is meant to reference the Philistines, not Palestine. This creates a grander assumption that Peleset equals Philistine, meaning that all references to Peleset are potentially referring to Philistine rather than Palestine.

Others assert that, over time, historians began using Philistine to refer to all of Palestine. Scholars J Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes are cited in this Ancient History Encyclopedia entry arguing that “… during Classical Times the name ‘Philistia’ (“Land of the Philistines”) came to be applied more generally to the whole southern end of the Eastern Mediterranean Seaboard… In short, then, the English term ‘Palestine’ derives ultimately from ‘Philistia.’ In this same article, it is argued that the Greeks simply called Philistine “Palestine.” Later in the piece, however, the authors refer to the greater region as Palestine and distinguish the Philistines as a different people.

Conclusion

What can be gleaned from this, regardless of whether or not ‘p-r-s-t’ represents Palestine or Philistine, is Palestine’s existence in biblical times. Palestine was an active participant in Near Eastern affairs in the ancient and classical periods, as demonstrated by archaeological evidence and inscriptions. However, the world has much to learn in regards to its etymology and relation to the Philistines.

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