
The Temple of Dagon was a Semitic pagan temple in Gaza that was built by the Philistines. In 1117 BC, the Saran of Gaza and the High Priest of Dagon hosted a sacrificial festival to commemorate the Philistines' capture of the Israelite warrior Samson, and the festival included musical performances and the torture of Samson with whips and by sadistic dwarves. However, Samson, who had regained his superhuman strength by growing out his hair, wrought his vengeance on the 3,000 Philistines in attendance by pushing down the temple's pillars, causing the Temple of Dagon to collapse on the Saran, all of his nobles and ministers, and his betrayer Delilah.