15 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Phoenicians You Never Knew

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The debate about our ancestry is still quite active. Phoenicians left a significant mark in history and it was all done while based in modern-day Lebanon.

With more and more DNA results proving a strong Lebanese link to Phoenicia, maybe you should know more about their accomplishments.

#1 People have been living in Byblos, a city, for over 7000 years

Making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

#2 Phoenicians invented the alphabet

The Phoenicians invented the original alphabet, which consisted of 22 letters. The Greeks later adopted it and added 4 more, all of which we use today.

#3 Well, the Phoenicians actually invented the numbers

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Canaan was the name of a large and prosperous ancient country (at times independent, at others a tributary to Egypt) located in the Levant region of present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. It was also known as Phoenicia. The origin of the name `Canaan’ for the land comes from various ancient texts (among them the Bible) and there is no scholarly consensus on precisely where the name originated nor what it meant. According to the Bible, the land was named after a man called Canaan, the grandson of Noah (Genesis 10). Other theories cite `Canaan’ as derived from the Hurrian language for `purple’ and, as the Greeks knew the Canaanites as `Phoenicians’ (Greek for `purple’) and as the Phoenicians worked in purple dye and so were called by the Greeks `purple people’, this explanation is the most probable. The theory has also been advanced that the name comes from the Hebrew root-verb kana which denotes order from chaos, a blending, or synchronous existence. Scholars J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes claim no definitive meaning for the name citing ancient sources which used it simply as a place name: "The name `Canaan’ appears in various ancient texts from Egypt to Mesopotamia. In the Egyptian texts, Canaan seems to have been used as a designation for Egypt’s Asiatic province. In the Bible, Canaan could refer to the whole of Palestine west of Jordan, the ideal inheritance of the Hebrews; but it could also refer to more restricted areas, especially the coastland of Palestine. Correspondingly, the biblical writers occasionally refer to the whole indigenous population of Palestine as `Canaanites’ (thus interchangeably with `Amorites’). On other occasions, they seem to distinguish the Canaanites and Amorites from other groups among the occupants of Palestine." (38) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Article by Joshua J. Mark || Photos belong to their respective owners)

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The Phoenicians invented numbers that look like what we call the “Roman Numerals” today. They created the alphabet and number system for the sole purpose of being able to record information about their trades.

#4 Phoenicians reached the Americas before Christopher Colombus

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#Tyre #Lebanon (part 1)is an ancient #Phoenician city was founded around 2750 BC , it was originally built as a walled city upon the mainland. The famous The Triumphal Arch "Arch of Hadrian" and one of the best hippodromes in the region were constructed during the #Romanempire in 64 BC.🇱🇧❤️ #history #explore #discover . . Тир, Ливан – древний финикийский город, который был основан около 2750 года до н.э., он был первоначально построен как обнесенный стеной город на материке. Знаменитая Триумфальная арка «Арка Адриана» и один из лучших ипподромов в регионе были построены во время #римскаяимперия в 64 году до нашей эры!

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There is evidence that proves the presence of the Phoenicians in modern-day America – before Christopher Colombus discovered it.

#5 Phoenicians invented the purple color

It was extremely expensive and time-consuming to produce the purple color. Only the very wealthy were able to afford it. That is why the purple color has long been associated with royalty

#6 Phoenicians were the first to accept Christianity

Some studies suggest they became Christians before the Jews even converted. Saint Peter took his first headquarters in the city of Byblos, the first unofficial yet factual Vatican, and opened the first discipleship school.

#7 ‘Phoenicianism’ is a form of Lebanese nationalism today

Phoenicianism is the belief that Lebanese are of descent and not of Arab descent. Did you know there’s a party/movement called the United Phoenician Party in Lebanon? We just found out.

#8 Pythagoras was

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Phoenician Shekel of Tyre. Perhaps the longest dated series from antiquity, the silver shekels (tetradrachms) from the Phoenician city of Tyre have been much collected and admired for centuries. Produced beginning in 126 BC and continuing without interruption until the reign of the emperor Nero in AD 67/8 (Tyre year 191), these coins span the end of the Hellenistic world, the rise of Rome and the lifetime of Jesus Christ. ••• Since they are dated and the correlation with the Gregorian calendar in use today is clear, these coins stand alone as being attributable to years when specific historical events occurred. Furthermore, because of their long tradition of good metal, they were the only coins acceptable as payment for the Jewish temple tax, and this is likely one of the reason they continued to be produced for nearly 200 years. ••• Obv. Laureate head of Melkart right, within dotted border. ••• Rev. Eagle on prow to left. ••• This coin was just submitted to NGC Ancients this week and will post the this coin on our website when available. www.capstonecoins.com #shekel #jewishcoins #phoenician #atx #silverancient #tyre #templetax #history #arthistory #museumquality #silver #melkart #coins #numismatica #numismatic #ancientcoins

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Much like most Lebanese today, Pythagoras was born abroad (Samos) to a father from Tyre. I know we’re not a big fan of mathematics, but we should still accept him as one of our own.. after all, he was quite the genius.

#9 Phoenicians supplied the Cedar trees for King Solomon’s temple and built it themselves

The famous story in the Bible of King Solomon using our cedar trees to build his temple in Jerusalem. Check it out.

#10 Phoenicia grew into a great civilization without engaging in war

Phoenicia spanned the entire coast of the Mediterranean sea. However, it grew through trading, setting up trading posts, and building coastal cities, and not by conquering.

The Phoenicians very rarely went to war – and when they did, it was to defend one of their city-states, like the historical siege of Tyre by Alexander the Great.

#11 ‘Phoenicians’ was the name given to them by the Greeks

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Baalbek, Lebanon. The mighty temple of Bacchus dates back to the 12th Century and dominates the temple complex. When I first visited Baalbek I was the only person there for the whole day. My second visit was a bit different with roughly 100 people wandering around. Good to see things are changing and the place is seen as being safer now. When I first visited I was advised not to go, as the temple is in the middle of Hezbollah territory. I never had any problem and felt very privileged to have the temple to myself. #baalbek #lebanon #middleeast #travel #adventure #adventuretravel #everycountryintheworld #chasing193 #travelswithmydeaduncle #travellerscenturyclub #travelphotography #wanderlust #explore #traveladdict #instatravel #thebesttravelled #nomadmania

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It comes from the Greek word “Phoinikes” for Tyranian Purple – referring to the purple dye manufactured and used in Tyre. We actually don’t know what they called themselves.

#12 The main cities of Phoenicia are located in Lebanon

Sidon, Byblos, and Tyre are ancient  cities located in Lebanon – where people have been living for thousands of years… Making them among the oldest in the World.

#13 Phoenicians invented glass manufacturing

glassworkers invented the glass blowing skills.

#14 Phoenicians developed open-sea navigation

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GUESS WHAT!! “Researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand and the Lebanese American University studied the remains of ancient Phoenicians and found out that they were explorers, not conquerors” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As a matter of fact, the history of the Phoenicians is “unclear since most of the historical record about these people came from their enemies: the Romans and the Greeks.” Hence suggesting that documents were either destroyed or still have not been found yet. According to this research, Phoenicians traveled -with their wives- to gather zin and pay taxes to anciant Assyrians “thus, wanted to explore, not conquer” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Check link in bio for more!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #tyre #Tyr #Sour #StoriesofSour #HistoryOfSour #صور #Lebanon #لبنان #LebanonShots #LebanonTimes #Lebanon🇱🇧 #Photography #Potd #Photographie #Wanderlust #TravelBug #PhotographyLovers #PhotoArt #Travel #Trip #Travelstagram #RoundtheWorld #Phoenician #PhoenicianExplorers #TravelForHistory #History #OldTown #PhoenicianBoat #Historical #The961

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Before, sailors wouldn’t go far out into the sea. Rather, they stayed close to the coast. The Phoenicians revolutionized this by sailing out far into the sea which has lead to the success of their trading.

They used the North Star to help them navigate. It was referred to as the “ Star” up until the 19th century.

#15 Many Legendary Masters who impacted the world were Phoenicians from today’s Lebanon

Pythagoras, Euclide (the father of geometry), Thales (one of the 7 sages of Greece), Zeno (founder of the stoicism philosophy and who has a moon crater in his name), Cadmus (“Master of the Worl”) and many of the likes were Phoenicians.

Get to know 10 Historical Legends You Didn’t Know Were Actually Phoenicians.

So now that you have some facts about Phoenicia, feel free to use it the next time you argue in favor of the ancestry of Lebanon.

There is even more to the Phoenicians than the above. Check out: Everything You Need to Know to Know About the Hidden Truth of Baalbek.