The Phoenician Maritime Empire

The Phoenicians were a legendary maritime people, who are still recognisable from images of their great ships bedecked with horse’s heads in the name of their sea-god. Famous for their commercial and maritime success, they established independent city-states dotted along the coast of the Mediterranean sea. Yet, despite their influence on the Mediterranean culture, they had a lack of a singular language, land, or cultural heritage, making their identity a mystery to many.

The maritime lives of the ancient Phoenicians

Phoenician ships were a true sight to behold – they were ornately carved and decorated with paintings that were intended to intimidate their enemies. Eyes were even included to help the ships to “see” where they were going on their journeys, as well as to frighten their adversaries.

What’s more, the famous horse’s head, which was in honour of their god of the sea, Yamm, made them appear even more impressive and intimidating.

Because the Phoenicians were famous for their mastery of maritime navigation, their ships were constructed using cutting-edge techniques for that time. They predominately built two types; the gauloi and the Phoenician warships.

The gauloi was a trade ship, or “round ship” and had a large rectangular sail that helped it to turn and catch the wind, as well as an oar-like blade that enabled steering. It was large enough to carry a crew, as well as goods.

The warships were different from the gauloi in so far as that they were built for an attack – they were longer and narrower so that they could hold a maximum number of people. At the front of the warship, an area known as the forecastle was used to launch catapults during battle.

Also, a bronze tip, called a rostrum, on the bow was used to ram the ships of their adversaries. Their ships were so structurally advanced that they were still in use long after the downfall of the Phoenician empire.

The powerful city of Carthage

When the Phoenician’s system of power and wealth collapsed, they found themselves struggling to trade goods between their cities as they used to, and their workshops and markets floundered as a result. However, according to one ancient scholar, the Phoenicians were “the first to plough the sea”, so they used their maritime strength to explore and visit new lands, ones rich in goods and allies.

Eventually, they were able to form new towns and settlements, the most famous of which was to eventually become the powerful city of Carthage.

Located in modern-day Tunisia, the ancient city of Carthage is perhaps the most famous of the Phoenician settlements.

Early archaeological evidence of the occupation of Carthage dates back to approximately 760 B.C.; it started as a basic settlement, but within a century it had city walls, the beginnings of a harbour, and even a Tophet – a structure that may have been used for child sacrifice. In time, its large marketplace by the sea made it the clear choice for gathering magistrates making their decisions on the law and elections.

Originally known as Qart Hadasht (New City) in its Phoenician name, due to its location, Carthage dominated trade routes across the Mediterranean, as well as those between Africa and Europe. For this reason, it started to ruffle feathers in the Roman Empire; the two cities ultimately fought three Punic Wars, the third of which led to Carthage’s temporary ruination.  The two cities weren’t always hostile though, as they had a history of trade and even alliance when it came to the Pyrrhic War.

Carthage eventually fell at the hands of the Romans after a prolonged siege which culminated in the city being burned. However, it was not to be gone for long, as Julius Caesar built a new city on its site, which would eventually become the largest North African city to the west of Egypt. So, the legacy of Carthage continued to live on, and today the city of Tunis (with a population of more than two million) overlooks its ancient ruins.

Wondering if you could have any Phoenician heritage? Find out today with My True Ancestry.