The proper name of the Philistine national deity, whose cult center was at Ashdod (with a secondary shrine at Gaza). The dramatic narrative of 1 Samuel 5 provides most occurrences: the captured ark of God is placed in Dagon's temple, and the idol is found fallen prostrate before it — first intact, then with head and hands broken off on the threshold (1 Sam 5:2-5). This incident gives rise to the cultic practice of not treading on Dagon's threshold. Samson's final act takes place in a temple of Dagon at Gaza (Judg 16:23). The etymology may connect to Hebrew dag ('fish') or to the Semitic grain deity Dagan, though the origin remains debated.