Dagon in Biblical History

Bible History

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Definitions in Biblical History
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Who is Dagon?
DA'GON
(diminutive, to express endearment, of fish), the national god of the Philistines. His corresponding goddess was Atargatis or Derceto, and they were at times worshipped in a common temple. Atargatis is manifestly related to Astarte. There were temples of Dagon at Gaza, where Samson performed his final feat of strength in pulling down the pillars, Jud 16:23; at Ashdod, where the idol miraculously fell down before the ark of the covenant, 1 Sam 5:1-4 (this temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabaean war, 1 Maec 10:83-84; 1 Maec 11:4; Joseph., Ant., 13,4,& 5); at Beth-dagon, in Judah, Josh 15:41, and in Asher, Josh 19:27; and elsewhere. Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the body of a fish, the fish part signifying fecundity. The worship of a fish-god was not original with the Philistines or the The Fish-God. (From a bas-relief from Khorsabad. Botia.) Phoenicians, who also were Dagon's worshippers, but with the Assyrian Babylonians, upon whose monuments are representations of such a god, under the name Odakon, sporting in the sea surrounded by fishes and marine animals. He was said to have emerged from the sea and to have been "one of the great benefactors of men," because he taught them the use of letters, the arts, religion, and agriculture.

Bibliography Information
Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'dagon' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Schaff's

Copyright Information
© Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home

Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary

Schaff's Bible Dictionary

Popular in the New Testament

Popular in the
New Testament