DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61301#0116
88
STUDIES IN GREEK ART.
serpents over the frankincense shrubs. Cinnamon was
brought to the Arabians by huge birds in their beaks,
from whence men knew not. Setting aside these
charming fables, Arabia still remains the perfume land
of the world. In olden days, when strong scents and
unguents were more appreciated than now, the trade of
Arabia was a source of immense.wealth. Frankincense
and myrrh, balm, cassia, palm and calmus, there thrive
luxuriantly. Another Greek writer speaking of Arabia
Felix says the perfume is ambrosial beyond all descrip-
tion. In coasting along the shore, even at a distance,
if the wind be favourable, the perfume may be inhaled,
and the odour is of marvellous strength and virtue.
These perfumes of Arabia would be for our purpose of
little importance but for the fact that they entered so
largely into Syrian and ultimately Phoenician trade.
Through the medium of Egypt to the south, as well as
Babylonia to the north, the products of Arabia were
sought by Phoenician merchants. Trade with Egyptwas
very easy. Phoenician traders had but to coast down
to the Delta, and then continue the journey by land.
Egypt was already in communication with Arabia ; from
the time of the establishment of the Theban dynasty
onwards we have records of the exploits of Egyptian
kings against the tribes of Phut, as they call Arabia.
The Egyptian queen Hatasu, of the Theban line (about
1630 B.C.), herself in person led a fleet on the Red Sea,
STUDIES IN GREEK ART.
serpents over the frankincense shrubs. Cinnamon was
brought to the Arabians by huge birds in their beaks,
from whence men knew not. Setting aside these
charming fables, Arabia still remains the perfume land
of the world. In olden days, when strong scents and
unguents were more appreciated than now, the trade of
Arabia was a source of immense.wealth. Frankincense
and myrrh, balm, cassia, palm and calmus, there thrive
luxuriantly. Another Greek writer speaking of Arabia
Felix says the perfume is ambrosial beyond all descrip-
tion. In coasting along the shore, even at a distance,
if the wind be favourable, the perfume may be inhaled,
and the odour is of marvellous strength and virtue.
These perfumes of Arabia would be for our purpose of
little importance but for the fact that they entered so
largely into Syrian and ultimately Phoenician trade.
Through the medium of Egypt to the south, as well as
Babylonia to the north, the products of Arabia were
sought by Phoenician merchants. Trade with Egyptwas
very easy. Phoenician traders had but to coast down
to the Delta, and then continue the journey by land.
Egypt was already in communication with Arabia ; from
the time of the establishment of the Theban dynasty
onwards we have records of the exploits of Egyptian
kings against the tribes of Phut, as they call Arabia.
The Egyptian queen Hatasu, of the Theban line (about
1630 B.C.), herself in person led a fleet on the Red Sea,