Samson, Spartans, and the Lord of the Flies: Giving Goliath His Due, Part II (Ad Navseam Ep. 129)

Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle for Part II of their investigation into the Philistines. Did Samson’s story borrow from Hercules? Why did the Philistines have an iron monopoly? And did the Spartans really claim to be descendants of Abraham?

Introduction: 100,000 Strong in the Vomitorium

Welcome back to the “bunker,” listeners! In Episode 129 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, hosts Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe are celebrating a massive milestone: 100,000 downloads.

To put that in perspective, that’s early-career Britney Spears numbers (or so the hosts speculate). Whether you are a long-time “classical gourmand” or a new arrival, the hosts are grateful you’ve tuned in for this delectable discussion of Greco-Roman civilization.

Tonight’s episode concludes the deep dive into Neal Bierling’s book, Giving Goliath His Due. Having established in the previous episode that the Philistines were likely Mycenaean Greeks (the “Sea Peoples”), the hosts now venture down some fascinating “rabbit holes” involving Samson, metallurgy, and a surprising letter from Sparta.

Samson vs. Heracles: Interpretatio Graeca or Coincidence?

One of the most contentious topics discussed is the striking parallel between the biblical judge Samson and the Greek hero Heracles (Hercules).

Dr. Noe references scholar Othniel Margalith, who argued that the legends of Heracles were the source of the Samson stories. The similarities are undeniable:

• ** The Lion:** Both heroes slay a lion with their bare hands (the Nemean Lion vs. the lion of Timnah).
• The Strength: Supernatural physical power.
• The Weakness: Both succumb to the wiles of women (Deianira vs. Delilah).
• The Death: Both die in a form of self-sacrifice/conflagration.

However, the hosts debate whether this is a case of direct borrowing or simply a universal archetype of the “trickster strongman”. While Margalith suggests the Israelites adopted Mycenaean myths, conservative scholars like Roskoff argue the differences (such as Samson’s Nazarite vow and historical grounding) suggest distinct origins.

Ultimately, whether it is syncretism or archetype, the connection highlights the deep cultural overlap in the ancient Mediterranean.

The Archaeology of the Temple: Columnae and Catastrophe

The discussion moves from myth to architecture. The Bible describes Samson’s death occurring when he pushed apart the two central pillars (columnae) of the Philistine temple at Gaza, collapsing the roof upon himself and his captors.

Bierling points to excavations at Tel Qasile (a Philistine site within modern Tel Aviv) as corroborating evidence. Archaeologists found a temple there with a roof supported by two cedar wood pillars resting on stone bases.

While the Tel Qasile temple is smaller than the one described in Gaza, the architectural layout confirms that Philistine temples relied on this specific two-pillar structural design—making the mechanics of Samson’s final act historically plausible.

The Iron Monopoly: Ferrum vs. Bronze

Why were the Philistines able to dominate the Israelites for so long? The answer lies in metallurgy.

1 Samuel 13 notes that there was “no smith found throughout all the land of Israel” and that Israelites had to pay Philistines to sharpen their tools. The Philistines held a monopoly on iron (ferrum).

Dr. Noe explains why the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age was so difficult:

1. Heat: Melting copper for bronze requires 1,100°C. Smelting iron requires a kiln capable of reaching 1,530°C.
   
2. Technique: Iron must be quenched and tempered. Without this, it is inferior to bronze.
   
3. Necessity: The collapse of trade routes (the “Sea Peoples” disruption) cut off the supply of tin (needed for bronze) from places as far as Afghanistan and England.

The Philistines, possessing the advanced technology of the Mycenaeans, mastered iron working first, giving them a massive military advantage over the bronze-wielding Israelites.

Beelzebub: Lord of the Flies or Zeus Apomyios?

The hosts unpack the etymology of the famous Philistine god of Ekron: Beelzebub.

In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah tries to consult this god, earning a death sentence from Elijah.

• Beelzebul: The original Canaanite title likely meant “Lord Prince” or “Lord of the Lofty Abode”.
  
• Beelzebub: The Hebrew writers likely punned this into “Lord of the Flies” (Zebub = flies) to mock him.

However, there is a Classical connection. Some scholars link this deity to Zeus Apomyios (“Fly-Averting Zeus” or “Zeus the Flycatcher”). In a world without sanitation, a god who could control disease-carrying swarms would be a powerful deity indeed.

The Spartan Connection: Are We Brothers?

Perhaps the deepest “rabbit hole” of the episode is a letter found in 1 Maccabees and mentioned by Josephus.

The letter is from the Spartan King Areus I (320–265 BC) to the Jewish High Priest, claiming that Spartans and Jews are “brothers and descendants of Abraham”.

While modern scholars like Eric Gruen argue this is a Jewish fabrication intended to build diplomatic ties, others suggest it reflects a genuine ancient belief. Greek writers like Hecataeus of Abdera linked the migration of the Jews from Egypt with the migration of Danaus (ancestor of the Spartans).

If the Philistines were Mycenaean Greeks (Danaans), and Samson was from the tribe of Dan, the lines between Greek and Hebrew history become blurrier than we ever imagined.

Sponsors

This episode is supported by:

• Ratio Coffee: BIG NEWS! The Ratio 4 is coming in 2024. It features the same “Bloom” technology (off-gassing) as the Ratio 8 but with a smaller footprint.
• The Deal: Visit ratiocoffee.com and use code ANCO3N (N for Nice/Non-belligerent) for a discount on the Ratio 6 or 8.
  
• Hackett Publishing: For affordable, high-quality classics like the Odyssey (Lombardo translation) used in Dr. Winkle’s classes.
• The Deal: Visit hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2023 for 20% off and free shipping.

Gustatory Parting Shot

Dr. Winkle shares a quote from an author named John Cheese (not to be confused with John Cleese, hopefully). It is a meditation on the culinary fury of Gordon Ramsay:

“I know for an absolute fact that if I ate a meal at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, I would be able to taste his anger.”

Valete! (And stay tuned for next week: Greek Tragedy!).

Latin Language SEO Spotlight

Here are some key terms from this episode to add to your lexicon:

• Hapax Legomenon: A word that appears only once in a text (e.g., the word pym, a Philistine weight mentioned in 1 Samuel).
  
• Damnatio Memoriae: The erasing of a person or people from history. After the Babylonian conquest, the Philistines essentially vanished from the record.
  
• Syncretism: The blending of different religious or cultural beliefs (e.g., Philistines worshipping the Semitic god Dagon using Mycenaean rituals).
  

Casus Belli: A cause for war. The capture of the Ark of the Covenant served as a divine casus belli for the plagues upon the Philistines.