Author Topic: Did the Phoenicians Even Exist?  (Read 444 times)

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rangerrebew

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Did the Phoenicians Even Exist?
« on: November 07, 2017, 01:52:25 pm »
Did the Phoenicians Even Exist?

Everybody in the Mediterranean around 3,000 years ago hated and envied these masters of seafaring, but who exactly were these Phoenicians?

 The Phoenicians are famed for being master seamen who traded with the peoples around the Mediterranean, spreading their alphabet as they sailed. Yet although they established trade centers as far as Spain and North Africa and founded the city of Byblos, which gave its name to the most influential book ever published, surprisingly little is known about them. Even their name comes from Homer, who dubbed them "Phoenicians", meaning "purple men", a reference to the murex dye for which they were famed.

The Old Testament never actually mentions Phoenicians. The only reference to that name is in ancient Greek writings, and they were referring to merchants living in cities along the coast of modern-day Lebanon.

read more: https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/archaeology/1.733940
« Last Edit: November 07, 2017, 01:52:51 pm by rangerrebew »

Offline jpsb

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Re: Did the Phoenicians Even Exist?
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2017, 02:03:28 pm »
The 3,000 years ago is a little off

From Wiki

Phoenician city-states began to take form c. 3200 BC and were firmly established by c. 2750 BC. Phoenicia thrived as a maritime trader and manufacturing center from c.1500-332 BC and was highly regarded for their skill in ship-building, glass-making, the production of dyes, and an impressive level of skill in the manufacture of luxury and common goods.

Edit note I changed BCE (which I hate) to BC.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2017, 02:03:44 pm by jpsb »