?Who were the Phoenicians? Josephine Quinn’s 360-page In Search of the Phoenicians overturns our traditional understanding of these ancient peoples, shows why they have been so mischaracterised, and attempts to uncover their true nature. A whole lot is revealed about the ancient communities that occupied stretches of the coastline between modern day Lebanon and Syria.

No really, who were they? The question is surprisingly fraught with confusion. You see, traditional academia has treated the Phoenicians as a singular homogenous nation that existed from before 1200 BCE well into the CEs. But Quinn meticulously takes the reader on a journey through the centuries to show that no such Phoenician nation ever existed. Instead, the citizens of such cities as Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos in Lebanon, in addition to Carthage in Tunisia identified with their cities and families alone.

How the concept of a Phoenician nation was born: The most absorbing section of the book discusses the mechanisms behind Phoenicia’s birth. From the “New Phoenicianism” movement in a newly-independent Lebanon to the Roman Empire — each built a mythical past of the land to help create a new state unified in shared history.

A detail-heavy read: Those with a keen eye for the minutiae will appreciate this book. The pages are populated with primary evidence: modern political speeches, ancient inscriptions, coins, and burial sites. The author takes your hand through her expert analysis of the evidence, leaving the reader with an acute appreciation for the Phoenician story.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Grab a digital or paperback edition from Amazon.

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