DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9184#0184
New Chapters in Greek History. [Chap. VI.
fixed with accuracy. It was earlier, however, than the
date of the foundation of the Italian and Sicilian colonies,
that is, than the eighth century before our aera. It
probably preceded the time when Assyrian influence was
strongest on the coasts of Syria and in Asia Minor.
Josephus states, that Shalmaneser, about the year 730,
made war upon Phoenicia and penetrated to the shores
of the Mediterranean. The straits endured by the metro-
polis, Tyre, naturally brought greater liberty to the colony,
Citium, which from this period began like Carthage to
have a trade and a far-reaching policy of its own. At the
end of the eighth century Sargon was supreme master of
the island, and on a pillar preserved at Berlin we find the
names of the kings and kingdoms which paid him tribute,
Salamis being at this time the Greek, and Citium the
Phoenician metropolis of the island. The tribute was
continued to his grandson, Esarhaddon.
As to the antiquity of the connection between Cyprus
and Egypt there has been some controversy, some Egypt-
ologists being disposed to regard it as very ancient. But
Herodotus states in positive terms, that Amasis, a king
of the new semi-Greek Egyptian kingdom of the sixth
century B.C., was the first Egyptian king to conquer the
island. The determination of the controversy is the less
important, because wherever the Phoenicians had sway
they introduced a copy of Egyptian manners in Egyp-
tian art ; and at this distance of time it is sometimes
difficult to distinguish true Egyptian from pseudo-Egyp-
tian influence in art-remains.
After the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, the supre-
macy of Cyprus naturally fell into the hands of the
Persians ; and hereupon the opposition between the Greek
and the Phoenician settlers became at once intensified.
Like the Phoenicians of the mainland, those of Cyprus
seem to have found their wisdom in a general support of
fixed with accuracy. It was earlier, however, than the
date of the foundation of the Italian and Sicilian colonies,
that is, than the eighth century before our aera. It
probably preceded the time when Assyrian influence was
strongest on the coasts of Syria and in Asia Minor.
Josephus states, that Shalmaneser, about the year 730,
made war upon Phoenicia and penetrated to the shores
of the Mediterranean. The straits endured by the metro-
polis, Tyre, naturally brought greater liberty to the colony,
Citium, which from this period began like Carthage to
have a trade and a far-reaching policy of its own. At the
end of the eighth century Sargon was supreme master of
the island, and on a pillar preserved at Berlin we find the
names of the kings and kingdoms which paid him tribute,
Salamis being at this time the Greek, and Citium the
Phoenician metropolis of the island. The tribute was
continued to his grandson, Esarhaddon.
As to the antiquity of the connection between Cyprus
and Egypt there has been some controversy, some Egypt-
ologists being disposed to regard it as very ancient. But
Herodotus states in positive terms, that Amasis, a king
of the new semi-Greek Egyptian kingdom of the sixth
century B.C., was the first Egyptian king to conquer the
island. The determination of the controversy is the less
important, because wherever the Phoenicians had sway
they introduced a copy of Egyptian manners in Egyp-
tian art ; and at this distance of time it is sometimes
difficult to distinguish true Egyptian from pseudo-Egyp-
tian influence in art-remains.
After the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, the supre-
macy of Cyprus naturally fell into the hands of the
Persians ; and hereupon the opposition between the Greek
and the Phoenician settlers became at once intensified.
Like the Phoenicians of the mainland, those of Cyprus
seem to have found their wisdom in a general support of