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Today, most people know little about the culture of the ancient Phoenicians. For several centuries in the first millennium BC, they were the premier merchants and explorers of the ancient world. Phoenician culture began in the Levant (the area roughly congruent with the modern nation-state of Lebanon) and quickly expanded through colonization to both sides of the Mediterranean basin.  For the most part, they were distinct city-states, and they did not necessarily share languages or cultures with one and another. Even though they were distinct groups, as a whole, the people of the Levant (despite their differences, were outstanding traders.<ref>Quinn, Josephine. "[https://aeon.co/essays/phoenicia-an-imaginary-friend-to-nations-in-need-of-ancestors Phantasmic Phoenicia]" ''Aeon.co''</ref>

Phoenician culture began in the Levant region sometime in the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1500-1200 BC), probably as a branch of the older Canaanite culture. Since the Phoenician language was Semitic and closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic, there is a good chance that the Phoenicians were at least partially descended from the Canaanites and related to the Hebrews. <ref> Markoe, Glenn E. <i>Phoenicians.</i> (Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2000), p. 10</ref>  The Phoenicians were fortunate enough to be close to other peoples who were literate so that by the early Iron Age, or sometime just after 1200 BC, they were able to develop their own alphabet and system of writing. The Phoenician alphabet was revolutionary and highly adaptable since it was completely syllabic, so the classical Greeks later adopted it for their writing system. <ref> Moscati, Sabatino. <i>The World of the Phoenicians.</i> Translated by Alastair Hamilton. (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968), pgs. 90-91</ref>  Phoenician religion was similar to that of other ancient peoples in that it was polytheistic, but it possessed several key points that made it unique among its neighbors. Since there was no single Phoenician state or kingdom, the theology and rituals varied from city to city. For instance, the god Melqart was the primary deity of Tyre, El/Baal was preeminent in Sidon, and the goddess Baalat had attributes similar to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar and the Egyptian goddess Isis – was supreme in Byblos. <ref> Moscati, pgs. 31-34</ref> To the Phoenicians, gaining favor for sea-borne trade expeditions from their gods was more important than doing so for the gods of war.  All of the gods mentioned above were associated with the seas or trade, and water often played an important role in Phoenician religious rituals. <ref> Moscati, p. 39</ref> Timber was also a significant part of the Phoenician culture as it was one of their primary exports and was needed to build their ships. Because of those factors, timber expeditions to the mountains near Byblos also doubled as religious pilgrimages to the goddess Baalat. <ref> Herm, Gerhard. <i>The Phoenicians: The Purple Empire of the Ancient Near East.</i> (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1975), p. 35</ref> The focal point of Phoenician cultural life was their many vibrant and thriving cities.

Phoenician religion was similar to that of other ancient peoples in that it was polytheisticThe Phoenicians inhabited many different cities, but it possessed several key points that made it unique among its neighbors. Since there was no single Phoenician state or kingdom, the theology and rituals varied from city to city. For instancethree major ones were Byblos, the god Melqart was the primary deity of Tyre, El/Baal was preeminent in and Sidon, and the goddess Baalat had attributes similar to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar and the Egyptian goddess Isis – was supreme in Bybloswhich all practiced monarchal forms of government. <ref> Moscati, pgs. 31-34</ref> To the PhoeniciansAlthough they worked closely together, gaining favor for sea-borne trade expeditions from their gods relationship was more important of an unofficial confederation of independent city-states than doing so for an official alliance or league. Byblos was the gods of war. All oldest of the gods mentioned above were associated with the seas or tradecities, and water often played an important role becoming prominent in Phoenician religious rituals. <ref> Moscati, pthe middle of the fourteenth century BC. 39</ref> Timber It was also a significant part of the Phoenician culture as it wealthy, walled city but was one of their primary exports eclipsed by Tyre and was needed to build their ships. Because of those factors, timber expeditions to the mountains near Byblos also doubled as religious pilgrimages to Sidon in the goddess Baalatearly Iron Age. <ref> Herm, Gerhard. <i>The Phoenicians: The Purple Empire of the Ancient Near East.</i> (New York: William Morrow and Company, 1975), p. 3531</ref> The focal point of Phoenician cultural life was their many vibrant and thriving cities.

The Phoenicians inhabited many different cities, but the three major ones were Byblos, Tyre, and Sidon, which all practiced monarchal forms of government. Although they worked closely together, their relationship was more of an unofficial confederation of independent city-states than an official alliance or league. Byblos was the oldest of the cities, becoming prominent in the middle of the fourteenth century BC. It was a wealthy, walled city but was eclipsed by Tyre and Sidon in the early Iron Age. <ref> Herm, p. 31</ref> Tyre became an international power under the rule of King Hiram I (reigned ca. 971-939 BC), who was known for trading extensively with his neighbor, the Kingdom of Israel. Hiram I is famously mentioned in the Old Testament book of I Kings (5: 2-8) for providing much of the timber used to build the Solomonic Temple. He was also responsible for moving the entire city from the shoreline to a more defensible position on a human-made island no bigger than forty acres. <ref> Bikai, Patricia Maynor. “Cyprus and the Phoenicians.” <i>Biblical Archaeologist.</i> 52 (1989) p. 206</ref> The final of the three most important Phoenician cities was Sidon, which became a premier city in the sixth century during Achaemenid Persian rule. Sidon was a regional capital responsible for supplying the Persian army with food, ships, mercenaries, and other resources. <ref> Markoe, p. 51</ref>

By the sixth century BC, the Phoenicians had effectively monopolized most trade in the Mediterranean basin. They manufactured products such as jewelry, carved ivory, bronze table vessels, bottled oils, the gum storax, and most importantly, cloth dyed in “Tyrian purple,” extracted from the sea snail murex. <ref> Bikai, p. 205</ref> Tyrian purple was in high demand because it was applied to white garments, turning them violet or purple, which was the nobility's color. The dye is also the origin of the term Phoenicia, which is what the Greeks called Tyrian purple.

Tyrian purple may have been the resource that the Phoenicians were most closely associated with, but it was their monopolization of the timber industry that made them wealthy. The Phoenician cities were all located close to fertile cedar and fir in Lebanon's hills and mountains, which they utilized to make their ships and trade with other peoples. <ref> Moscati, p. 83</ref> For instance, the Egyptians only had direct access to various palm trees, which were not suitable for shipbuilding, so they were willing to pay the Phoenicians princely sums for their timber. The Phoenicians knew how to work the ancient markets and produced fine -quality finished goods. Still, their extensive exploration and colonization of the Mediterranean made them the most successful merchants of the ancient world.