Short History of the Phoenicians, A: Revised Edition

by Mark Woolmer

Offering new insights based on recent archaeological discoveries in their heartland of modern-day Lebanon, Mark Woolmer presents a fresh appraisal of this fascinating, yet elusive, Semitic people. Discussing material culture, language and alphabet, religion (including sacred prostitution of women and boys to the goddess Astarte), funerary custom and trade and expansion into the Punic west, he explores Phoenicia in all its paradoxical complexity. Viewed in antiquity as sage scribes and intrepid mariners who pushed back the boundaries of the known world, and as skilled engineers who built monumental harbour cities like Tyre and Sidon, the Phoenicians were also considered (especially by their rivals, the Romans) to be profiteers cruelly trading in human lives. The author shows them above all to have been masters of the this was a civilization that circumnavigated Africa two thousand years before Vasco da Gama did it in 1498.

The Phoenicians present a tantalizing face to the ancient historian. Latin sources suggest they once had an extensive literature of history, law, philosophy and religion; but all now is lost. In this revised and updated edition, Woolmer takes stock of recent historiographical developments in the field, bringing the present edition up to speed with contemporary understanding.

268 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2021

Reviews

[Koeneman · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a average 4.5 stars rating I expected so much more. There are only a couple of rating but still the average was high.

“A short history of the Phoenicians” is a good book and very informative but nothing more than that. I didn’t find the book that enjoyable. The introduction chapter was 15% of the book… like, why?

[Mark A Swenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided that I didn't know anything about the Phoenicians and needed to read a book or two. I wasn't disappointed by Mark Woolmers work. A broad overview of the the people we know as the Phoenicians which will provide launching off points for further reading.