They matter for at least three reasons that extend beyond academic interest.

First, they are part of the foundational story of the Mediterranean world.

The origins of the Philistines, the possible connections between the Sea Peoples and the Etruscans, the role of the Bronze Age Collapse in shaping the subsequent development of Greek civilization, the Hebrew Bible’s memories of the Philistine encounter — all of these are aspects of the cultural heritage of Western civilization.

Understanding them more accurately changes how we understand our own cultural roots.