Sir Anthony van Dyck did a visually striking rendition of the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. The story goes that Samson, a fierce and mighty warrior of Israel fell for the beautiful Philistine Delilah. The Israelites were in constant conflict with the Philistine and Samson was the strongest of them all. Upon discovering the affair between Samson and Delilah the Philistine rulers went to Delilah and convinced to try to beguile secret behind Samson's strength out of him. She relented and eventually got Samson to admit to her that the source of his great power was his hair and if it were ever to be cut he would lose all of his immense strength. She reported this back to the Philistine rulers and with there help shored his seven long braids as he slept with his head in her lap. The Philistine rulers then took the weakened Samson away to a work camp as a prisoner.