Dagon

Little fish; diminutive from dag = a fish, the fish-god; the national god of the Philistines (Judg. 16:23). This idol had the body of a fish with the head and hands of a man. It was an Assyrio-Babylonian deity, the worship of which was introduced among the Philistines through Chaldea. The most famous of the temples of Dagon were at Gaza (Judg. 16:23-30) and Ashdod (1 Sam. 5:1-7). (See FISH.)

(a fish), apparently the masculine, (1 Samuel 5:3,4) correlative of Atargatis, was the national god of the Philistines. The most famous temples of Dagon were at Gaza, (Judges 16:21-30) and Ashdod. (1 Samuel 5:5,6; 1 Chronicles 10:10) The latter temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabaean wars. Traces of the worship of Dagon likewise appear in the names Caphar-dagon (near Jamnia) and Beth-dagon in Judah, (Joshua 15:41) and Asher. (Joshua 19:27) Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish. (1 Samuel 5:5) The fish-like form was a natural emblem of fruitfulness, and as such was likely to be adopted by seafaring tribes in the representation of their gods.

DA'GON (diminutive, to express endearment, of fish), the national god of the Philistines. His corresponding goddess was Atargatis or Derceto, and they were at times worshipped in a common temple. Atargatis is manifestly related to Astarte. There were temples of Dagon at Gaza, where Samson performed his final feat of strength in pulling down the pillars, Jud 16:23; at Ashdod, where the idol miraculously fell down before the ark of the covenant, 1 Sam 5:1-4 (this temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabaean war, 1 Maec 10:83-84; 1 Maec 11:4; Joseph., Ant., 13,4,& 5); at Beth-dagon, in Judah, Josh 15:41, and in Asher, Josh 19:27; and elsewhere. Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the body of a fish, the fish part signifying fecundity. The worship of a fish-god was not original with the Philistines or the The Fish-God. (From a bas-relief from Khorsabad. Botia.) Phoenicians, who also were Dagon's worshippers, but with the Assyrian Babylonians, upon whose monuments are representations of such a god, under the name Odakon, sporting in the sea surrounded by fishes and marine animals. He was said to have emerged from the sea and to have been "one of the great benefactors of men," because he taught them the use of letters, the arts, religion, and agriculture.

corn; a fish

DA'GON (diminutive, to express endearment, of fish), the national god of the Philistines. His corresponding goddess was Atargatis or Derceto, and they were at times worshipped in a common temple. Atargatis is manifestly related to Astarte. There were temples of Dagon at Gaza, where Samson performed his final feat of strength in pulling down the pillars, Jud 16:23; at Ashdod, where the idol miraculously fell down before the ark of the covenant, 1 Sam 5:1-4 (this temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabaean war, 1 Maec 10:83-84; 1 Maec 11:4; Joseph., Ant., 13,4,& 5); at Beth-dagon, in Judah, Josh 15:41, and in Asher, Josh 19:27; and elsewhere. Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the body of a fish, the fish part signifying fecundity. The worship of a fish-god was not original with the Philistines or the The Fish-God. (From a bas-relief from Khorsabad. Botia.) Phoenicians, who also were Dagon's worshippers, but with the Assyrian Babylonians, upon whose monuments are representations of such a god, under the name Odakon, sporting in the sea surrounded by fishes and marine animals. He was said to have emerged from the sea and to have been "one of the great benefactors of men," because he taught them the use of letters, the arts, religion, and agriculture.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish. W. Smith. This day a solemn feast the people hold To Dagon, their sea idol. Milton. They brought it into the house of Dagon. 1 Sam. v. 2.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A slip or piece. [Obs.] Chaucer.