Lost Civilizations: The Phoenicians

The Phoenicians might not have survived the turmoil of antiquity, but their legacy endures. They are credited with inventing the alphabet that has made writing, reading, and learning the quintessential characteristics of humanity. Phoenician maritime exploits have inspired numerous quests to discover unknown places. And their cultural fluidity, tolerance, ability to navigate political and cultural landscapes, and willingness to compromise serve as examples of how to survive, to persevere, and to adjust as a people.

Yet, despite their many achievements, the Phoenicians remain an enigma. We know of them mostly through the biased voices of outsiders who frequently competed with them in commercial pursuits. Even the word “Phoenicians” is a Greek invention: The people never referred to themselves that way.

Vadim S. Jigoulov, author and lecturer, situates Phoenicia in the geographical landscape of the ancient Near East. He addresses the questions surrounding Phoenician identity, describes the scope of their maritime exploits, and discusses their portrayals in works by Greek and Jewish authors.

Jigoulov is the author of The Phoenicians: Lost Civilizations.

Additional Lost Civilizations Programs

• April 25: The Etruscans
• May 9: The Greeks
• May 23: The Goths

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