Expansion in the Mediterranean sea
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On the territory of present-day Tunisia, in addition to the famous Carthage, we find, Leptis Minor with remains of wooden sarcophagus in -tombs wells-, Hadrumetum with an interesting tophet for steles, and other sites like Acholla, Hippo Acra ... Click to open page -Elissa, founder of Carthage-
In Cyprus archaeological excavations showed significant Phoenician presence from the ninth century BC. The main focus was on the eastern side of Kition. There was also Golgoi, Idalion, Tamassos Paphos and other famous centers
In Egypt the Phoenician presence was limited. There was a Memphis Tyrian camp and a sanctuary to Astarte
The Phoenicians established trading posts in the archipelago in the Aegean Sea, where there are only minute traces. The Greek tradition indicates their presence in Rhodes, Crete, where they founded Itanos city. In Athens, the remains of cuts show commercial activity, in Attic some inscriptions mark their passage.
In Malta the findings of the sanctuary of Tas Silg trace the Phoenician presence in the seventh century BC
In western Sicily Phoenician presence was heavy and old. The largest and most experienced centers is Motya that this presence is attested in the eighth century and that will grow up in the fourth century when the Greeks destroyed the settlements. In addition to Motya, the Phoenician presence was detected at Solunte and Palermo but where traces are smaller because of the successive strata
The Phoenician presence in Sardinia, with implantations on Sulcis and Tharros back to the eighth century BC. Whereas Cagliari, Nora and Bithia it is at least the seventh century. North of the island,, Olbia, remains the most important center. Along the eastern coast, the largest expansion of Carthage in the fourth century BC marks the Phoenician control over the whole island.
The question of a Phoenician presence in Corsica remains open, pending further excavations. Some mentioned their were seeking refuge in the many coves bordering the Cap Corse on their way to other trading posts in Mediterranean sea
With recent excavations, we are expanding the territory of the Phoenician presence in Spain, which was previously limited to Cadiz and Ibiza. The discovery, on Villaricos center on the southern coast, of the necropolis have unearthed a substantial number of terracotta and art items. Other settlements discovered in Cerro del Penon Toscanos Guadalhorce ... indicate the arrival of the Phoenicians in the eighth century BC. JC, as their presence in Almunecar at Cortijo de las Sombras, Traymanar and other cities on the coastal zone
In Morocco we find cemeteries of the IV-III centuries to Rusaddir; In Tanger, jewelry and ceramics discovered indicate an earlier date VIII century BC On the Atlantic coast, the famous city of Lixus, known for its legendary seniority, attested from the VII century BC. The same time sites of Sala and Mogador were known with their ceramics, jewelery and inscriptions
In Algeria we find Phoenician sites and especially Punic necropolis Icosium, current Algiers, which dates back to the sixth century BC, In Iol, current Cherchell, a necropolis was found with painted ostrich eggs, in The Andalusians there were a habitat and a necropolis of the fourth century BC
In Libya, the Phoenician and Carthaginian settlements intermingle seen the evolution of Carthage in history who became a great power which in turn began to found colonies. According to ancient records of the town, Auza, still unidentified, was founded by Ithobaal of Tyre in the ninth century BC To the famous city of Leptis Magna, some historians suggest a Sidonian’s colony while others attribute it to Tyre with traces dating from the seventh century BC . In Oea, current Tripoli, a necropolis of Third-II centuries BC was brought to light
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