The Philistines are remembered primarily through biblical narratives and archaeological discoveries. They interacted with neighboring cultures in the early Iron Age (ca. 1200–600 BCE) and are believed to have been part of the broader “Sea Peoples,” likely originating in the Aegean before settling along the Levantine coast. Excavated skeletal remains at these sites reveal a mixed population, with early people showing Aegean descent that gradually blended with local gene pools. They seem to have been of average stature and subsisted on a diversified diet of wheat, barley, olives, grapes, and legumes. They are among the earliest known consumers of pork in the Levant, a dietary marker that distinguished them from neighboring Israelites. Zooarchaeological evidence suggests exposure to zoonotic diseases—those transmitted from animals to humans—particularly through pigs. Possible diseases include parasitic infections such as trichinosis or tapeworm infestations.

One of the most famous medical references to the Philistines appears in the biblical account of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5–6), in which the Philistines are afflicted by “tumors” after capturing the Ark. Scholars have interpreted these episodes as possible outbreaks of infectious disease such as bubonic plague. Their coastal location, trade connections, and population density could have facilitated the spread of pathogens by rodents. Tuberculosis, common in ancient populations, may also have been present, though definitive diagnoses remain difficult.

The Philistines were frequently engaged in warfare, particularly with the Israelites, as depicted in biblical accounts such as the story of Goliath. Skeletal remains show evidence of trauma, including healed fractures and cranial injuries from swords, spears, and arrows. Direct evidence of Philistine medical practices is sparse, but inferences suggest that the Philistines likely adopted medical knowledge from neighboring Egypt and Mesopotamia. Herbal remedies, poultices, and basic surgical interventions (e.g., wound cleaning, splinting fractures) were probably in use. Temples likely functioned as centers of both spiritual and physical healing. The cities, like most ancient urban sites, lacked modern sanitation. Waste disposal, water contamination, and crowding would have contributed to gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections. Their coastal location would have provided access to marine resources but also exposure to waterborne pathogens, seasonal fluctuations in food supply, periodic malnutrition, infectious diseases, and unexpected encounters with diverse enemies.