18/08/2020
The Etymological Journey of 'Palestine'
The name 'Palestine' carries a weight of history, a term that has been applied, reapplied, and contested across millennia. Its origins are not straightforward, weaving through ancient languages, imperial decrees, and shifting political landscapes. Understanding the etymology of 'Palestine' is key to grasping its complex historical narrative.
From Philistines to Province: Ancient Roots
The name 'Palestine' ultimately derives from the Latin 'Palestina', which in turn originates from the Greek 'Palaistinē'. The Greek term, notably mentioned by the historian Herodotus, is linked to the Hebrew word 'Pelesheth', meaning 'Philistia' or 'land of the Philistines'. The Philistines were a seafaring people, often referred to as one of the mysterious "Sea Peoples" in Egyptian chronicles, who settled along the southern coastal plain of the Levant during the late Bronze Age, around the 12th century BCE. Initially, the term 'Peleshet' referred specifically to the region occupied by these Philistines, primarily along the Mediterranean coast from Gaza to Jaffa.
A Roman Imposition: Syria Palaestina
The significant transformation in the application of the name occurred during the Roman period. Following the suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE, the Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed the province of Judea as 'Syria Palaestina'. This act was not merely a geographical designation; it was a deliberate political statement. By associating the land with the ancient Philistines, Hadrian aimed to sever the direct link between the Jewish people (known in Hebrew as 'Y'hudim' and in Latin as 'Judaei') and their ancestral homeland, 'Judah' (Y'hudah in Hebrew). The intention was to diminish Jewish claims and identity tied to the territory. This Roman renaming marked a crucial point where 'Palestine' began to encompass a broader region than just the Philistine coastal plain.
Evolution Through Empires and Mandates
The name 'Palestine' continued to be used throughout subsequent historical periods, albeit with varying geographical and political interpretations. During the Byzantine era, around 390 CE, the imperial province of Syria Palaestina was further reorganised into 'Palaestina Prima', 'Palaestina Secunda', and 'Palaestina Salutaris'. Following the Muslim conquest, many of the existing place names, including 'Palestine', were retained and continued in usage within the Arabic administrative framework. The term also became more common in early modern English.
Under the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the region from 1517 to 1917, 'Palestine' was often used as a general term to describe the lands south of Syria. However, it was not an official administrative designation. Many inhabitants, including Ottomans and Arabs living in the area, referred to the region as Southern Syria. Despite this, the name 'Palestine' persisted as a geographical descriptor.
The British Mandate and Modern Usage
The name 'Palestine' gained renewed political significance after World War I. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the territory that was to become the British Mandate for Palestine was established. This mandate, officially designated on April 25, 1920, by the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers at San Remo, encompassed not only the territory of modern-day Israel but also Transjordan. During the British occupation prior to the formal mandate, the area was administered as the "Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (South)", with its headquarters in Jerusalem.
It is noteworthy that during the period of the British Mandate, before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, it was common for the international press to refer to the Jewish inhabitants of the region as 'Palestinians'. Institutions like 'The Palestine Post' (later 'The Jerusalem Post') and the 'Palestine Symphony Orchestra' (later the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra) exemplify this usage. The term 'Palestinian' at this time was more of a geographical identifier, applying to anyone living in the territory, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Shifting Identities: From Palestinian to Israeli
With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a significant shift in identity occurred. Jewish citizens began to identify primarily as 'Israelis'. The Arab inhabitants who remained in Israel were often referred to as 'Israeli Arabs'. Over the decades, while some Arabs adopted Israeli identities and learned Hebrew, many continued to maintain a connection to the Palestinian nationalist cause. The term 'Palestinian' then increasingly became associated with the Arab population seeking self-determination in the region.
Linguistic and Religious Contexts
The linguistic and religious associations with the land have also been varied. For Christians, 'Palestine' is often synonymous with the 'Holy Land'. For Jews, the traditional and deeply significant name for the land has always been 'Eretz Yisrael', the Land of Israel. Interestingly, the words 'Palestine' or 'Filastin' do not appear in the Quran. However, the Hebrew precursor, 'peleshet', appears numerous times in the Jewish Tanakh (Old Testament), and variations of the term are found in the King James Bible's Hebrew concordance.
Key Terminology and Summaries
To summarise the key points regarding the name 'Palestine':
| Origin | Meaning | Key Historical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew 'Pelesheth' | 'Philistia', 'land of the Philistines' | Initial designation for the coastal region inhabited by Philistines. |
| Greek 'Palaistinē' | Derived from Hebrew 'Pelesheth' | Used by ancient Greek writers to refer to the region. |
| Latin 'Palestina' | Derived from Greek 'Palaistinē' | Roman provincial name. |
| Roman 'Syria Palaestina' | 'Palestinian Syria' | Renaming of Judea by Hadrian in 135 CE as a punitive measure. |
| British Mandate | Geographical and political designation | Applied to the territory administered by Britain after WWI. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who originally gave the name 'Palestine' to the land?
The name is ultimately derived from the Hebrew 'Pelesheth', referring to the Philistines. The Romans later applied the name 'Syria Palaestina' to the province of Judea.
Q2: Did the term 'Palestine' always refer to the same geographical area?
No, the geographical scope of 'Palestine' has evolved. Initially, it referred to the Philistine coastal plain. Later, under Roman rule, it expanded to encompass Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. During the Ottoman era, it was a more general term for lands south of Syria, and under the British Mandate, it covered a larger territory including present-day Israel and Jordan.
Q3: Were the ancient inhabitants of Palestine called 'Palestinians'?
The term 'Palestinian' was used historically as a geographical identifier for anyone living in the territory, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims, particularly during the Roman and British Mandate periods. The ethnic or national identification of 'Palestinian' as it is understood today largely developed later.
Q4: Does the name 'Palestine' appear in religious texts?
The words 'Palestine' or 'Filastin' do not appear in the Quran. The precursor term 'peleshet' appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
Q5: When did the term 'Palestine' become a formal political designation?
The name was reintroduced as an official political designation in 1920 with the establishment of the British Mandate for Palestine. Prior to this, it was primarily a geographical or descriptive term.
The journey of the name 'Palestine' is a testament to the enduring and often contested nature of place names, reflecting the layers of history, conquest, and identity that have shaped this ancient land.
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