mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== _[1]Alphabet [2]America_ [3]Anthropology _[4]Art_ _[5]Archaeology [6]Architecture_ _[7]Australia_ _[8]Brazil [9]Britain [10]Cadmus_ _[11]Celts_ _[12]Christian_ _[13]Cities [14]Colonies [15]Dentistry [16]Dictionary_ _[17]Dress [18]Europa_ [19]Genetics _[20]Geography [21]Gibraltar_ _[22]Government_ _[23]Crafts [24]History [25]Homer [26]Immigrants [27]Industry [28]Inscriptions_ _[29]Knowledge [30]Language [31]Law [32]Letters_ _[33]Linguistics_ _[34]Literature [35]Mining [36]Money [37]Music [38]Names_ _[39]Origin [40]Pagan [41]Pillage_ _[42]Poetry_ _[43]Politics [44]Present [45]Religion [46]Ships_ _[47]Stealing_ _[48]Temple [49]Thales/M_ _[50]Torah_ _[51]Trade [52]Treasures [53]Trees_ _[54]Tunisia_ _[55]Voyages_ _[56]Wars [57]Wreck [58]Y-Chromosome [59]Zeno/C_ _[60]Zeno/S _-- [61]Bibliography -- _[62]Author [63]Patriarchs_ _-- [64]Related links_ _[65]Search Phoenicia?_ _[66]Sign Engravers' Rock (Guestbook)_ _[67]View Engravers' Rock (Guestbook)_ (_) SEARCH Phoenicia ____________ Search [68]Get a Search Engine For Your Web Site _Missionaries of Civilization_ The Phoenicians were instrumental in disseminating their form of writing which became our modern alphabet and in opening up various civilizations and cultures of the Mediterranean basin to each other. Both sciences and pseudosciences spread from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Phoenicia and Anatolia. The Phoenicians, in particular, transmitted much of this knowledge to the various lands of the Mediterranean, especially to the Greeks. The direction taken by these influences can be followed from Egypt to Phoenicia, Syria and Cyprus. The evidence comes thanks to a combination of excavated art forms that prove the direction of movement, as well as to Greek tradition. The latter lays great stress on what the early Greek philosophers learned from Egypt. Mesopotamian influence can be traced especially through the partial borrowing of Babylonian science and divination by the Hittites and later by the transmission of information through Phoenicia. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians wrote no theoretical treatises; information had to be transmitted piecemeal through personal contacts. _Phoenician, what's in a name?_ It is not certain what the Phoenicians called themselves in their own language; it appears to have been Kena'ani (Akkadian: Kinahna), "Canaanites." In Hebrew the word kena'ani has the secondary meaning of "merchant," a term that well characterizes the Phoenicians. The Greeks gave the new appellation Phoenicians to those Canaanites who lived on the seacoast and traded with them. Phoenicia is the Greek work for "purple". The most probable reason for giving this name is the famous Tyrian purple cloth which the Phoenicians manufactured and sold to the rich of the ancient world. _Ethnic Origin and_ _Language_ The Phoenicians probably arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean about 3000 B.C., however, nothing is known of their original homeland. What may be the most common ethnic origin they are considered to be is Semitic; however, some studies suggest that their original homeland may have been in the Indian sub-continent long before 3000 B.C. while other studies trace their origin, according to Irish records, to suggest that they descend from a Scythian King named Phoeniusa Farsa...according to the _Irish_ this kings' descendents eventually populated the country of Phoenicia and named the country in his honor...Phoeniusa son. They spoke Phoenician which is very close to Aramaic. Phoenicians had a language and culture like those of other Semitic peoples in the general area and may be said to have been identical with the Canaanites of North Palestine. _Geography and Major Cities_ Baalbeck Berytus Byblos Caesarea Carthage Sidon Tyre Zarephta _Political Structure and Colonies_ Their city states had a loose alliance and they established colonies in the far corners of the Mediterranean. _Religion and Mythology_ They worshiped fertility gods and goddesses and their belief system was influenced by other religions in the Eastern Mediterranean and had some influence on Greek and Roman mythologies. At the beginning of the Christian era, Phoenicians were the first to accept the new faith after the Jews. _Troubled History_ Phoenician cities, at the cross-roads of the East, were often invaded and subjugated by foreign conquerors which include Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Macedonians, Persians, and Romans, in addition to others. However, the Phoenicians were basically traders not warriors; and trade and war do not work well together. _Creators of Alphabet_ They created a form of alphabet which evolved and was adapted by the Greeks to become the backbone of modern alphabet. _Commerce and Other Achievements_ The Phoenicians were sea-faring traders who carried merchandise and goods across the Mediterranean. They circumnavigator Africa and used the Polar Star as a navigational guide. _Important Visitor to Phoenicia (as opposed to invaders)_ Herodotus Jesus Christ of Nazareth Saint Paul Saint Peter and other Apostles Origen, Christian Scholar Others (more to come) _Very Important Phoenicians (VIPs)_ Aquilina of Byblos, Christian martyr (died in 293 A.D.) Barbara of Baalbeck/Heliopolis, Christian martyr (died in 237 A.D.) Cadmus, "Preacher of the Phoenician Alphabet" Christina of Tyre, Christian martyr (died in 300 A.D.) Dorotheus, Jurist and Professor of Roman Law Eusebius Bishop of Berytus (Beirut) Eusebius of Caesarea, Christian Icon Hanno, Circumnavigator of Africa Himilco, Voyager Hiram the Architect, Solomon's Temple Designer Jezebel Princess of Sidon and Queen of Israel (wife of King Ahab of Israel) John Mark Bishop of Byblos designated Bishop by St. Peter King Hiram of Tyre King Abi-Milki of Tyre King Ethbaal of Sidon (father of Princess Jezebel) King Ahiram of Byblos King Rib-Addi of Byblos King Zimrida of Sidon King Jabin of Hazor Mochus of Sidon wrote on the atomic theory Papinian, Jurist Perpetua and Felicity, Christian martyrs of Carthage (died in 203 A.D.) Philo of Byblos, Writer Porphyry of Tyre, Writer Sanchuniathon, Writer Thales of Miletus, Astronomer Theodosia of Tyre, Christian martyr (died 293 A.D.) Ulpian, Jurist Zeno of Citium, Philosopher Zeno of Sidon, Philosopher Others (more to come) _Phoenician Art, Crafts, Music, and Literature_ They dyed cloth which was the prized possession of the rich and worked in precious metals and ivory. Most Phoenician literature is unknown or was lost. However, second hand information and some ecclesiastical Phoenician works survive. Traces of their music may still be found in some church music today. _The Logo or Coat of Arms ©_ The logo or Coat of Arms is my own creation and it represents Phoenician achievements and mythology. The two creatures or mythological monsters -- part horse, part fish -- called hippocampus come from Phoenician antiquity and represent Phoenician mythology. (The _Trade_ link, under the subtitle Transit Trade, contains an image of a Phoenician silver coin with an impression of the hippocampus monster and a Phoenician ship.) Further, on the top of the logo, a piece of marble with Phoenician script represents Phoenician alphabet. Beneath it, the cloth represents famous Phoenician dyed cloth. At the very bottom, amphorae represent vessels which were used to carry Phoenician merchandise, as they traded about the Mediterranean. _Why a Web page about Phoenicia?_ As a duty to my ancestors, to my national origin, to the young and old who do not know, to the old who wish to ignore the facts or like to hide them and to all those who are interested in history and cultures, I compiled this information. _Dedication_ I dedicate this site in loving memory to my parents, Lucy and George, and to the good people of Bmakine, Souk El-Gharb, Ein El-Saiydeh, and Ein El-Rimmeneh -- in the Lebanese mountains -- where ever they may be. _Acknowledgment_ The researcher, editor, complier of these pages wishes to convery his appreciation and gratitude to the [69]persons who povided historical information, reference pointers and editorial comments on the materials contained in these pages. [70]References and Sources Return [71]Home to "A Bequest Unearthed, Phoenicia" © Copyright, 2001. All rights reserved by holders of original referenced materials and the compiler. http://phoenicia.org The material on this home page was researched, compiled, and designed by Salim George Khalaf, NC, USA _Note: Left is my name written in Egyptian Hieroglyphics, Greek, Cyrillic (Bulgarian & Russian), Arabic, Phoenician, Hebrew and Latin._ Comments are welcome at [72]slim at phoenicia.org Revised: June 22, 2001 References Visible links 1. http://phoenicia.org/alphabet.html 2. http://phoenicia.org/america.html 3. http://phoenicia.org/anthropology.html 4. http://phoenicia.org/art.html 5. http://phoenicia.org/modknow.html 6. http://phoenicia.org/architecture.html 7. http://phoenicia.org/australia.html 8. http://phoenicia.org/brazil.html 9. http://phoenicia.org/britmines.html 10. http://phoenicia.org/cadmus.html 11. http://phoenicia.org/celts.html 12. http://phoenicia.org/xtian.html 13. http://phoenicia.org/cities.html 14. http://phoenicia.org/colonies.html 15. http://phoenicia.org/dentstry.html 16. http://phoenicia.org/press.html 17. http://phoenicia.org/dress.html 18. http://phoenicia.org/europa.html 19. http://phoenicia.org/anthropology.html 20. http://phoenicia.org/geog.html 21. http://phoenicia.org/gibraltar.html 22. http://phoenicia.org/govern.html 23. http://phoenicia.org/trade.html 24. http://phoenicia.org/history.html 25. http://phoenicia.org/homer.html 26. http://phoenicia.org/immig.html 27. http://phoenicia.org/industry.html 28. http://phoenicia.org/inscriptions.html 29. http://phoenicia.org/modknow.html 30. http://phoenicia.org/ethnlang.html 31. http://phoenicia.org/law.html 32. http://phoenicia.org/letters.html 33. http://phoenicia.org/semlang.html 34. http://phoenicia.org/ethnlang.html#anchor123152 35. http://phoenicia.org/minning.html 36. http://phoenicia.org/phoeniciamoney.html 37. http://phoenicia.org/artmusic.html 38. http://phoenicia.org/cananams.html 39. http://phoenicia.org/ethnlang.html 40. http://phoenicia.org/pagan.html 41. http://phoenicia.org/feature.html 42. http://phoenicia.org/ethnlang.html#anchor627777 43. http://phoenicia.org/govern.html 44. http://phoenicia.org/today.html 45. http://phoenicia.org/xristrel.html 46. http://phoenicia.org/ships.html 47. http://phoenicia.org/steal.html 48. http://phoenicia.org/temple.html 49. http://phoenicia.org/thales.html 50. http://phoenicia.org/ugarbibl.html 51. http://phoenicia.org/trade.html 52. http://phoenicia.org/tresures.html 53. http://phoenicia.org/temptrees.html 54. http://phoenicia.org/cartunis.html 55. http://phoenicia.org/gifs/proutes.html 56. http://phoenicia.org/punicwar.html 57. http://phoenicia.org/wreck.html 58. http://phoenicia.org/anthropology.html 59. http://phoenicia.org/zenocit.html 60. http://phoenicia.org/zeno.html 61. http://phoenicia.org/bibliogr.html 62. http://phoenicia.org/mee.html 63. http://phoenicia.org/gifs/patriarchs/index.htm 64. http://phoenicia.org/phoresrs.html 65. http://phoenicia.org/search.html 66. http://mars.guestworld.tripod.lycos.com/wgb/wgbsign.dbm?owner=shalim7 67. http://mars.guestworld.tripod.lycos.com/wgb/wgbview.dbm?owner=shalim7 68. http://intra.whatUseek.com/?synd=box&chan=1 69. http://phoenicia.org/bibliogr.html 70. http://phoenicia.org/bibliogr.html 71. http://phoenicia.org/index.shtml 72. mailto:slim at phoenicia.org Hidden links: 73. http://phoenicia.org/govern.html 74. http://phoenicia.org/wreck.html