Phoenice Prima

ancient province, Middle East

Also known as: Maritima

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July 1, 2026

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Phoenice Prima was an ancient province located in the southwestern region of Syria, encompassing coastal Phoenicia and extending beyond the mountains into the Syrian Desert. This region roughly corresponds to modern-day Lebanon. The area was reorganized into two provinces by the Eastern Roman emperor Theodosius II in the early 5th century CE: Phoenice Prima (Maritima) and Phoenice Secunda (Libanesia).123

The chief cities of ancient Phoenicia included Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, and Berytus (modern Beirut). These cities were known for their maritime trade and colonization efforts. The Phoenician language was eventually replaced by Aramaic as the vernacular, and later by Greek.421

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Lebanon
Greek and Roman periods
…was expanded into two provinces: Phoenice Prima (Maritima), basically ancient Phoenicia; and Phoenice Secunda (Libanesia), an area extending to Mount Lebanon on the west and deep into the Syrian Desert on the east. Phoenice Secunda included the cities of Emesa (its capital), Heliopolis, Damascus, and Palmyra.
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…was expanded into two provinces: Phoenice Prima (Maritima), basically ancient Phoenicia; and Phoenice Secunda (Libanesia), an area extending to Mount Lebanon on the west and deep into the Syrian Desert on the east. Phoenice Secunda included the cities of Emesa (its capital), Heliopolis, Damascus, and Palmyra.
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