Phoenician ship at Sidon port
Depiction of a Phoenician ship at the Mediterranean port of Sidon (now in Lebanon).
Phoenicia
historical region, Asia
Phoenicia, ancient region along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean that corresponds to modern Lebanon, with adjoining parts of modern Syria and Israel. Its location along major trade routes led its inhabitants, called Phoenicians, to become notable merchants, traders, and colonizers in the 1st millennium bce. The chief cities of Phoenicia (excluding colonies) included Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, and Berot (modern Beirut). The designation of “Phoenician” (Greek: Phoinix) is not known to have a reflex native...