Ekron Royal Dedicatory Inscription
This rare royal inscription directly identifies the city of Ekron and provides evidence for its rulers, religious life, and political history during the seventh century BC.
About the Discovery
In 1996, excavators at Tel Miqne found a five-line royal dedicatory inscription in the remains of a temple complex. It names Ikausu (Achish), son of Padi, as ruler of Ekron, and lists earlier members of his dynasty. The inscription also records a dedication to a goddess whose name and interpretation are debated.
Because the text explicitly names Ekron, it confirms the identification of Tel Miqne with this major Philistine city. The royal names can also be compared with records from the Assyrian empire.
Scripture Reference
Joshua 13:3; 1 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 17:52; Jeremiah 25:20 (references to Ekron and the Philistines, not to this inscription).