DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61301#0137
PHOENICIA.
109
fire had kindled the forests on the Tarshish hills, and
that the veins of metal, melted by the heat, flowed out,
and every mountain shone with gold and silver. Even
the rivers ran with gold; the women would catch the
water in their sieves, and it filtered through, leaving
pure metal. Nor were other natural products wanting.
Salt was found in abundance, and thick-fleeced cattle
and sheep, wine and oil; and the land was rich in corn,
honey, and pitch, and cinnabar ; and, again, this water
of the Atlantic was rich in tunny fish and purple dye.
If the Phoenicians were willing for the sake of this rich
produce to risk so long and perilous voyages, we may
be sure that the demand at home was brisk. It seems
clear that by their alliance with the Jewish kings they
had obtained a great increase of facilities for trade.
Their caravan routes, passing through a friendly country,
would be much safer, and more practicable. To Egypt,
to Syria, Assyria, and Babylon they could now carry
their wares undisturbed.
It was about 1100 B.C. that the Phoenicians first
reached the pillars of Hercules. They must by that
time have been bold and skilful navigators, understand-
ing how to steer by the stars. For such long voyages
also they must have needed strong, swift ships, fit to face
the squalls of the Mediterranean. It was in a ship going
from Joppa to Tarshish that the prophet Jonah sought to
escape from the presence of the Lord ; “ but the Lord
109
fire had kindled the forests on the Tarshish hills, and
that the veins of metal, melted by the heat, flowed out,
and every mountain shone with gold and silver. Even
the rivers ran with gold; the women would catch the
water in their sieves, and it filtered through, leaving
pure metal. Nor were other natural products wanting.
Salt was found in abundance, and thick-fleeced cattle
and sheep, wine and oil; and the land was rich in corn,
honey, and pitch, and cinnabar ; and, again, this water
of the Atlantic was rich in tunny fish and purple dye.
If the Phoenicians were willing for the sake of this rich
produce to risk so long and perilous voyages, we may
be sure that the demand at home was brisk. It seems
clear that by their alliance with the Jewish kings they
had obtained a great increase of facilities for trade.
Their caravan routes, passing through a friendly country,
would be much safer, and more practicable. To Egypt,
to Syria, Assyria, and Babylon they could now carry
their wares undisturbed.
It was about 1100 B.C. that the Phoenicians first
reached the pillars of Hercules. They must by that
time have been bold and skilful navigators, understand-
ing how to steer by the stars. For such long voyages
also they must have needed strong, swift ships, fit to face
the squalls of the Mediterranean. It was in a ship going
from Joppa to Tarshish that the prophet Jonah sought to
escape from the presence of the Lord ; “ but the Lord