DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61301#0135
PHOENICIA.
107
occupied the promonotories of Sicily and the outlying
islands in order to carry on trade with the native Sikels.”
Two thousand feet above the sea, on the summit of
Mount Eryx was a temple to Astarte, the Syrian
Aphrodite; there were nourished her sacred doves.
Two other special strongholds they long maintained
upon the island, at both of which Astarte-Aphrodite
was worshipped. Sappho, in her Hymn to Aphrodite,
asks the goddess whether she tarries at Cyprus, or at
Paphos, or at Panormus. This same Panormus—now
Palermo—will occupy us in a future chapter.
We notice that these Phoenician colonies are in the main
on the west coast of Sicily, and from this western coast
they sailed easily to the south-west about one hundred
and fifty miles, and reached a coast destined to be to
them of the utmost importance, the coast of Africa.
There they seem very early to have founded two small
colonies, Hippo and Ityke, or, as we better know it,
Utica (tfta£=settlement). Two centuries later we must
return to this coast of Africa, and see them found the
great city of Carthage; but first they pass on to the
fruitful island of Sardinia, allured there by the precious
lodes of iron, silver, and lead.
Still sailing westward, they reach at last the rock
gates that lead to the Atlantic—the narrow straits we
now call Gibraltar, only ten miles wide. On either side
are the mountains of Europe and Africa ; beyond,
107
occupied the promonotories of Sicily and the outlying
islands in order to carry on trade with the native Sikels.”
Two thousand feet above the sea, on the summit of
Mount Eryx was a temple to Astarte, the Syrian
Aphrodite; there were nourished her sacred doves.
Two other special strongholds they long maintained
upon the island, at both of which Astarte-Aphrodite
was worshipped. Sappho, in her Hymn to Aphrodite,
asks the goddess whether she tarries at Cyprus, or at
Paphos, or at Panormus. This same Panormus—now
Palermo—will occupy us in a future chapter.
We notice that these Phoenician colonies are in the main
on the west coast of Sicily, and from this western coast
they sailed easily to the south-west about one hundred
and fifty miles, and reached a coast destined to be to
them of the utmost importance, the coast of Africa.
There they seem very early to have founded two small
colonies, Hippo and Ityke, or, as we better know it,
Utica (tfta£=settlement). Two centuries later we must
return to this coast of Africa, and see them found the
great city of Carthage; but first they pass on to the
fruitful island of Sardinia, allured there by the precious
lodes of iron, silver, and lead.
Still sailing westward, they reach at last the rock
gates that lead to the Atlantic—the narrow straits we
now call Gibraltar, only ten miles wide. On either side
are the mountains of Europe and Africa ; beyond,