International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 29 July 2010

A Philistine temple and evidence of a strong earthquake dating back to biblical times was discovered by archeologists during excavations at the Tel Tzafit National Park, near Kiryat Gat, near the site of the Philistine city of Gath which according to the book of Samuel was the home of Goliath.

The temple architecture of the Philistines also reveals what the temple of Dagon may have looked like during the time of Samson, when he brought the temple down, in particular the two pillars that held the center of the temple, said Prof. Aren Maeir of Land of Israel Studies and Archeology at Bar-Illan University.

Evidence of several brick walls that were thrown apart "like a deck of cards" also gave seismologists confirmation that a major earthquake happened at the site that would have registered an 8 on the Richter scale.

"We know that there is a very famous earthquake mentioned in the book of Isaiah and the book of Amos... What we have here is very strong arch-evidence of a dramatic earthquake," said Maeir.

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