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The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization composed of independent city-states along the coast of the Mediterranean. As a result of their location, the Phoenicians very quickly became adept at at navigation and shipbuilding, and possessed knowledge of the sea superior to other civilizations, “As shipbuilders, navigators, merchants, miners, metallurgists, gem-engravers and engineers, they were the first great pioneers.” This knowledge as well as extensive trade throughout the ancient world allowed their influence to reach civilizations as far as Asia and Northern Europe, which caused the Phoenicians to live a wealthy lifestyle laced with culture that in turn influenced the classical world.
Evidence of the Phoenician’s affluent society predominantly lies in their art. The Phoenicians were one of the biggest producers and exporters of luxury goods during their time. They were particularly well-known for their glass-making, as well as their famous purple dye. Pliny the Elder was one of the first historians to write about the history of glass making, citing the Sidonian Phoenicians as responsible for the “accidental” discovery of glass. He wrote, “a ship belonging to traders in soda once called here, so the story goes, and they spread out along the shore to make a meal. There were no stones to support their cooking-pots, so they placed lumps of soda from their ship under them. When these became hot and fused with the sand on the beach, streams of an unknown liquid flowed, and this was the origin of glass.” Over time, the Phoenicians improved and expanded their craft, but the constant trade of their goods among surrounding civilizations was common throughout all stages of development. “In the 8th century BCE Phoenician glassmakers also produced monochrome and mosaic-glass inlays which were used in making exquisite furniture (mainly banquet beds) or were inlaid in ivories (also for furniture). Remains of such ivories were also found in the palaces of the kings of Israel at Samaria. Phoenician glass inlays also embellished cosmetic stone palettes, numerous examples of which have been found at Megiddo.” The Phoenicians were also rather fond of bowls and vessels. “Vessels were made by an ingenious method involving moulding on a core. Since glass-blowing was unknown in this early period, a core was made in the shape of the desired vessel from a material strong enough to withstand heating and fireable enough to be removed from the finished article. Viscous glass was applied to this core. The surface of the vessel was then decorated with threads of colored glass combed into ornamental patterns. The vessel was afterwards rolled on a flat surface and a handle and a base were added. This method required a high degree of skill.” These vessels were very popular, particularly among those with a higher socio-economic status, which created even greater wealth for the Phoenicians. During 1st century BCE, the art of glass-blowing was discovered, which created a myriad of new creations and drastically improved artistic methods and quality.
Another element of Phoenician art was their purple dye. They were known in the ancient world as the “purple people”, as the dye would stain the skin of the workers that created it. The city of Tyre was specifically known for their production of this dye; they exported their dye to royalty from Mesopotamia, through Egypt, and up through the Roman Empire. “At certain periods of history, wearing purple was considered the prerogative of priests, senators and emperors. The term ‘born to the purple’ to this day has the connotation of high or royal birth because during the Byzantine period empresses bore their royal offspring in special chambers draped in the opulence of purple cloth.” The Phoenicians had a unique process for creating this dye, and the tedious, even scientific nature of this process made it all the more priceless. “To make Tyrian purple, marine snails were collected by the thousands. They were then boiled for days in giant lead vats, producing a terrible odor. The snails, though, aren’t purple to begin with. The craftsmen were harvesting chemical precursors from the snails that, through heat and light, were transformed into the valuable dye.” The rich quality of this dye and its popularity among ancient rulers was a great contributor to the affluence of Phoenician society.
While the cities of Tyre and Sidon were powerful cities with a large cultural influence, the cities of Gebal/Byblos and Baalbek were famous for their religious influence.“Phoenician religion was inspired by the powers and processes of nature…The Phoenicians worshipped a triad of deities, each having different names and attributes depending upon the city in which they were worshipped, although their basic nature remained the same.” The temple was a large part of local religious life. The temple had a similar function to that of the classical world, being not only a religious site but also the center for political, administrative, and economical affairs. The temple also featured priests, singers and other musicians, diviners, scribes, and other specialists. The primary god was Baal, the “protector of the Universe”. “He is the god of the thunderstorm, the most vigorous and aggressive of the gods, the one on whom mortals most immediately depend.” Astarte shared many similarities with her sister Anath, goddess of love and war. Astarte however, “was linked with mother goddesses of neighboring cultures, in her role as combined heavenly mother and earth mother.” These gods and many others seem to have contributed to the mythology of the classical world, Baal, sharing many similarities with the Greek god Zeus, and Astarte being a possible inspiration for Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. One element particularly characteristic of the Phoenician practice of religion, especially in Carthage, was the ritual sacrifice of animals and young children to their gods. This element of Phoenician culture was seen as barbaric and inhumane by classical cultures, and may have contributed to conflict between the classical world and these other civilizations.
Evidence of the Phoenician’s affluent society predominantly lies in their art. The Phoenicians were one of the biggest producers and exporters of luxury goods during their time. They were particularly well-known for their glass-making, as well as their famous purple dye. Pliny the Elder was one of the first historians to write about the history of glass making, citing the Sidonian Phoenicians as responsible for the “accidental” discovery of glass. He wrote, “a ship belonging to traders in soda once called here, so the story goes, and they spread out along the shore to make a meal. There were no stones to support their cooking-pots, so they placed lumps of soda from their ship under them. When these became hot and fused with the sand on the beach, streams of an unknown liquid flowed, and this was the origin of glass.” Over time, the Phoenicians improved and expanded their craft, but the constant trade of their goods among surrounding civilizations was common throughout all stages of development. “In the 8th century BCE Phoenician glassmakers also produced monochrome and mosaic-glass inlays which were used in making exquisite furniture (mainly banquet beds) or were inlaid in ivories (also for furniture). Remains of such ivories were also found in the palaces of the kings of Israel at Samaria. Phoenician glass inlays also embellished cosmetic stone palettes, numerous examples of which have been found at Megiddo.” The Phoenicians were also rather fond of bowls and vessels. “Vessels were made by an ingenious method involving moulding on a core. Since glass-blowing was unknown in this early period, a core was made in the shape of the desired vessel from a material strong enough to withstand heating and fireable enough to be removed from the finished article. Viscous glass was applied to this core. The surface of the vessel was then decorated with threads of colored glass combed into ornamental patterns. The vessel was afterwards rolled on a flat surface and a handle and a base were added. This method required a high degree of skill.” These vessels were very popular, particularly among those with a higher socio-economic status, which created even greater wealth for the Phoenicians. During 1st century BCE, the art of glass-blowing was discovered, which created a myriad of new creations and drastically improved artistic methods and quality.
Another element of Phoenician art was their purple dye. They were known in the ancient world as the “purple people”, as the dye would stain the skin of the workers that created it. The city of Tyre was specifically known for their production of this dye; they exported their dye to royalty from Mesopotamia, through Egypt, and up through the Roman Empire. “At certain periods of history, wearing purple was considered the prerogative of priests, senators and emperors. The term ‘born to the purple’ to this day has the connotation of high or royal birth because during the Byzantine period empresses bore their royal offspring in special chambers draped in the opulence of purple cloth.” The Phoenicians had a unique process for creating this dye, and the tedious, even scientific nature of this process made it all the more priceless. “To make Tyrian purple, marine snails were collected by the thousands. They were then boiled for days in giant lead vats, producing a terrible odor. The snails, though, aren’t purple to begin with. The craftsmen were harvesting chemical precursors from the snails that, through heat and light, were transformed into the valuable dye.” The rich quality of this dye and its popularity among ancient rulers was a great contributor to the affluence of Phoenician society.
While the cities of Tyre and Sidon were powerful cities with a large cultural influence, the cities of Gebal/Byblos and Baalbek were famous for their religious influence.“Phoenician religion was inspired by the powers and processes of nature…The Phoenicians worshipped a triad of deities, each having different names and attributes depending upon the city in which they were worshipped, although their basic nature remained the same.” The temple was a large part of local religious life. The temple had a similar function to that of the classical world, being not only a religious site but also the center for political, administrative, and economical affairs. The temple also featured priests, singers and other musicians, diviners, scribes, and other specialists. The primary god was Baal, the “protector of the Universe”. “He is the god of the thunderstorm, the most vigorous and aggressive of the gods, the one on whom mortals most immediately depend.” Astarte shared many similarities with her sister Anath, goddess of love and war. Astarte however, “was linked with mother goddesses of neighboring cultures, in her role as combined heavenly mother and earth mother.” These gods and many others seem to have contributed to the mythology of the classical world, Baal, sharing many similarities with the Greek god Zeus, and Astarte being a possible inspiration for Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. One element particularly characteristic of the Phoenician practice of religion, especially in Carthage, was the ritual sacrifice of animals and young children to their gods. This element of Phoenician culture was seen as barbaric and inhumane by classical cultures, and may have contributed to conflict between the classical world and these other civilizations.