Tarshish - a Sanscrit or Aryan word, meaning "the sea coast." It occurs in the Bible in two meanings:

1. One of the "sons" of Javan.

2. The name of a place which first comes into notice in the days of Solomon. In all probability this was the south Spanish trading city that was known to the Greeks as Tartessos (see there for non-biblical history). However, the name is sometimes also used in more general meanings, the bible uses the term ships of Tarshish to denote large ships intended for large voyages whatever their destination, and Jonah's fleeing to Tarshish must probably be taken as 'a place very far away' rather than a precise geographical term.