Philistine Armor
Philistine Armor
Archaeologists discovered carvings of Philistine soldiers in the temple of Ramses III in Egypt. According to these carvings, the Philistines wore feathered helmets secured under their chins by leather straps. Headbands holding the feathers in place were probably made of metal. The Philistines wore breastplates and short skirts with wide hems and tassels. They were clean-shaven and quite tall. Sometimes, they carried small round shields and straight swords. In the Bible, Goliath wore brass greaves on his legs and a coat of mail (scales). Scale armor was important because it protected a soldier without restricting his movements. It was first used in the Aegean, where the Philistines originated.
