Poetry

POETRY

 

Their overseas exploits and the gradual recovery of the material traces of their voyages has been the focus of much research on the Phoenicians. From that evidence, however, we will never be able to reconstruct more than a part of their culture, for the Phoenicians were more than just good sailors and clever traders. It is an irony, that almost none of the literature of the people who gave us the alphabet, has been preserved. Fragments of their poetry have survived in, for example, the biblical Song of Songs and in the Psalms. The mountains are described as “a fountain that makes the gardens fertile, a well of living water” (Song of Song 4:15). Even more evocative is the Phoenician poem embedded in Psalm 104 which speaks of the birds making their nests in the cedars which God planted and the streams breaking out of the ravines. In that Psalm, the creator lives in a palace above the mountains – the thunder is his voice, the clouds his chariot, and the winds his messengers. Those are the Phoenician images that still survive in the religious consciousness of the West.

There can no longer be any doubt that the Bible has preserved some of the best in Phoenician literature, especially lyric and gnomic poetry. Without the powerful influence of the Canaanite literacy tradition, we should lack much of the perennial appeal exerted by Hebrew poetic style and prosody, poetic imagery and vivid description of natural phenomena. Through the Bible the entire civilized world has fallen heir to Phoenician literary art.

 

See: W.F.Albright, From Stone Age to Christianity, Baltimore, 1940.

And: S.J.Mitchell Dahood gives a lot of examples of Phoenician poetry in the Bible texts in his publication “The Phoenician contribution to Biblical Wisdom Literature.” In the paper “The role of the Phoenicians in the interaction of Mediterranean Civilizations” by W.A.Ward.

And: Edmond Jacob goes even further back in history, when he points out the Ugaritic wisdom and the comparisons with the Bible in: “Ras Sjamra – Ugarit en het Oude Testament, Callenbach, Nijkerk, 1962.

Music

MUSIC

Phoenician music was very appreciated in antiquity. In Assyria there was a Phoenician musician with the name Abdelim. Dion Chrysotome declares in the 1^st century AD: “Today dominates the music of the people of Arwad, the songs of the Phoenicians tempted you and you like the rhythm----“.

On archeological objects we can see the instruments that were used: tympanon, single- and double flute, tambourine, lyre, cymbal, harp, bells. During the festivities of Adonis people would dance and sing in the procession on the way to Byblos. On the other side of the world, in Gadir (Cadiz), people are singing on the festival of Melqart. Philostratus says in Vita Apol.V.4, that the inhabitans of Gadir are the only people on the world that sings on funerals.

Dancing

DANCE with the Phoenicians.

Baal Marqod is the Baal of the dance. A special form of Baal, which is connected with the Egyptian god BES and which is known by 3 inscriptions as Balmarkodes (greek) and 15 inscriptions as Baalmarcod (latin). Those were found in the sanctuary of Der el-Qal’a, located near Beit Mery (NE of Beirut). In front of this temple there are two columns of 2 meters in diameter, which reminds of the temples of Baalbek. Close to the temple there is a well-doing fountain. So, this Baal of the dance could also be a healer-god. And then there is the theory, that for ‘dance’ we must read ‘earthquakes’. It is not proven, but understandable, because the coast of Beirut was visited by many disasters like that.

 

See: Le temple de Baal Marcod à Deir el-Kala’a. Ch.Clermont-Ganneau. Recueil d’Archéologie Orientale 1888 p.101-114. Paris.

Yarimuta

Yarimuta.

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De vertaling rechts in het Engels is niet letterlijk         Op zoek naar YARIMUTA ===================   Dit was een belangrijke kuststad in de Libanon tijdens de El-Amarna brieven periode (1400-1350 v.C). De stad was al veel ouder, want de plaats wordt waarschijnlijk ook al genoemd in de inscripties van Sargon van Akkad (LAPO III blz.99 = Littératures anciennes du Proche-Orient, Paris) vanuit de 23e eeuw v.C. Ook in de Egyptische vervloekingsteksten vanuit de 19e eeuw v.C wordt de plaats vermoedelijk genoemd.   In de El-Amarna tijd was de plaats de zetel van een Egyptische goeverneur in Kanaan, namelijk Yan hamu.   Dan verdwijnt de naam in de vergetelheid. In het 1e millennium v.C komen we de plaatsnaam niet meer tegen. Ofwel de plaats is hartgrondig verwoest, of hij leeft verder onder een andere naam.     Waar moeten de plaats echter zoeken? Wellicht kunnen de brieven van El-Amarna hierover enig uitsluitsel geven.   EA 68: 27-28. “Van Iarimuta ontvingen wij leefbenodigdheden.”   EA 75: 10-14. “En voorts is de vijandigheid van de GAZ-krijgers erg sterk tegen mij gericht. De zonen, de dochters, en ook het houten meubilair van de huizen is verdwenen, omdat dat aan Iarimuta is gegeven teneinde in leven te kunnen blijven.” Het lijkt erop, dat Gubla voor zijn leeftocht is aangewezen op aanvoer uit Iarimuta.       EA 78: 31. “---Iar[imuta] ---“ Veel tekst is hier verdwenen, maar eromheen lezen we, dat Rib-Addi van Gubla zwaar in de verdrukking. Rib-Addi bezoekt even Beruna, maar de aanvallen van de GAZ mensen nemen toe.   EA81: 38-41. Herhaling van EA75.   EA82: 28-30. “Stuur een schip naar Iarimuta en laat dat geld voor U brengen en kleding voor hen.” Yarimuta moet dus ergens aan zee liggen, of aan een bevaarbare rivier. Het ligt niet in het gebied van Gubla, want Rib-Addi heeft in deze periode alleen nog maar Gubla en Beruna. De rest is in handen van Abd-Ashirta en de GAZ mensen.   EA85: 12-15. Herhaling van EA 75+81.   EA85: 33-37. “Verder, zou de koning het goed vinden, mijn heer, dat graan wordt gegeven, het produkt van het land van Iarimuta. Dat wat voorheen aan Sumura wordt gegeven, zou nu aan Gubla moeten worden gegeven.” Yarimuta heeft kennelijk de beschikking over genoeg graanvelden. Het moet een belangrijk landbouwgebied zijn. Sumur is nu in handen van Abdi-Ashirta, dus dat graan kan nu wel de richting van Gubla op.   EA85: 48-50. “Zeg tegen Ian hamu (goeverneur van Kanaan), dat hij geld en kleding meeneemt voor de mensen van Gubla in Iarimuta.” Er leven dus mensen van Gubla in Iarimuta. Had Gubla met Iarimuta een handelsrelatie?   EA86: 15-22. Hier ontbreekt veel, maar de naam van Iarimuta duikt weer op. Het is een brief van Rib-Addi aan Amanappa. Hierin wordt duidelijk, dat Ian hamu graan naar Gubla gezonden zou hebben, maar Rib-Addi heeft nog niets ontvangen.   EA86: 31-35. herhaling van EA85.   EA86: 46-50. “En van het land van I[arimuta] moet er graan gegeven worden voor ons levensonderhoud. Of stuur anders schepen, dat ik vooruit kan komen.” Er wordt honger geleden in Gubla. Rib-Addi heeft dringend behoefte aan voedsel en dat moet uit Iarimuta komen.   EA90: 36-39. Herhaling van EA85.   EA105: 47-48. “ ---om graan voor voeding mee te nemen van I[arimuta, dat ik] niet ----“   EA105: 85-87. “--- Iapa-Addi heeft niet toegestaan, dat mijn schip van Iarimuta komt en ik kan hen niet naar Sumura toesturen vanwege de schepen van Arwada.” Rib-Addi wil van alle kanten voedsel aanvoeren, maar hij wordt naar het noorden (Arwada) en naar het zuiden (Iapa-Addi) geblokkeerd. Iapi-Addi van Beruta heeft zich kennelijk verbonden met de toch al vijandige Zimrida van Siduna.   EA112: 27-30. “Alles is opgegeten, want al de bezittingen zijn aan Iarimuta gegeven, opdat we zouden overleven.” Het eind is kennelijk in zicht.   Alles overziende moet Yarimuta ergens tussen Beruta en Siduna in liggen. Want, van Zimrida van Siduna heeft de aanvoer van graan geen last, maar wel van Iapi-Addi van Beruta. Tussen Beruta en Siduna komen veelal kleine kustvlaktes voor, maar bij Damour ligt een wat grotere kustvlakte, waar het zo gewenste graan vandaan heeft kunnen komen. Is dit het land van Yarimuta?   Nu verdwijnt de naam Yarimuta na de El-Amarna periode compleet uit beeld. Kan het zijn, dat de plaats in het 1e Millennium v.C aan andere Fenicische naam heeft gekregen? In dat geval komen Qartimme, Hildua, Inimme, Gy’ of Sikku in aanmerking, waarbij Inimme de meeste kans heeft.

Come on and let us find the site of YARIMUTA. It is a little bit before the time of when we speak about the Phoenicians, but nevertheless a close forerunner. I will give the kick-off.   Looking for YARIMUTA ===================   This was an important coastal city in the Lebanon in the time of the El-Amarna Letters (1400-1350 BC). The city was already much older, because the place is probably also already mentioned in the inscriptions of Sargon of Akkad (LAPO III p. 99 = Littératures anciennes du Proche-Orient, Paris). Also from the 23rd century BC in the Egyptian cursing-texts from the 19th century BC the place is supposedly mentioned.   In the El-Amarna time the place was the seat of an Egyptian Governor in Kanaan, namely Yan hamu.   The name will disappear into oblivion. In the 1st millennium BC we encounter the place name anymore. Either the place is  thoroughly destroyed, whether he lives on under a different name.   However, where should we search the place? Perhaps the contens of the letters of El-Amarna may give any definite answer.   EA 68: 27-28. "We received food from Iarimuta."   EA 75: 10-14. "And Furthermore, the hostility of the GAZ-warriors is very strongly against me. The sons, daughters, and also the wooden furniture of the houses is gone, because that has been given to Iarimuta in order to remain alive. " It seems, that Gubla relies on supplies from Iarimuta for his rations.   EA 78: 31. "---Iar [imuta]---" much text here is gone, but around it we read, that Rib-Addi of Gubla is heavily in the tribulation. Rib-Addi is visiting Beruna, but here the attacks of the GAZ people are increasing.   EA81: 38-41. Repetition of EA75.   EA82: 28-30. "Send a ship to Iarimuta and let that bring money for you and clothes for them." Yarimuta should so somewhere at the sea, or to a navigable river. It does not lie in the field of Gubla, because Rib-Addi has in this period only Gubla and Beruna. The rest is in the hands of Abd-Ashirta and the GAZ people.   EA85: 12-15. Repetition of EA 75 + 81.   EA85: 33-37. "Further, the King would find it well, my Lord, that corn is given, the product of the land of Iarimuta. That what previously to Sumura is given, should now be given to Gubla. " Yarimuta has apparently tp offer enough grain fields. It should be an important agricultural area. Sumur is now in the hands of Abdi-Ashirta, so that grain from Yarimuta can now be brought in the direction of Gubla.   EA85: 48-50. "Tell Ian hamu (Governor of Kanaan), that he takes money and clothing for the people of Gubla in Iarimuta." So there live people of Gubla in Iarimuta. Had Gubla a trading relationship with Iarimuta?   EA86: 15-22. Missing here much, but the name of Iarimuta resurfaces. It is a letter of Rib-Addi to Amanappa. It becomes clear, that Ian hamu would have sent corn to Gubla, but Rib-Addi has still not received anything.   EA86: 31-35. repetition of EA85.   EA86: 46-50. "And by the land of I[arimuta] should there be given grain for our livelihood. Or else send ships, that I can come forward. " There is hunger in Gubla. Rib-Addi is in urgent need of food and that must come from Iarimuta.   EA90: 36-39. Repetition of EA85.   EA105: 47-48. "---to corn for food to take from I[arimuta, I] non----". Much text is here missing.   EA105: 85-87. "---Iapa-Addi has not allowed, that my ship comes from Iarimuta and I can not send them to Sumura because of the ships of Arwada." Rib-Addi want food from all sides, but he is blocked to the North (Arwada) and to the South (Iapa-Addi). Iapi-Addi of Beruta has apparently connected himself to the already hostile Zimrida of Siduna.   EA112: 27-30. "Everything is eaten, because all the possessions are given to Iarimuta, so that we would survive." The end is clearly in sight.   Summing everything up: Yarimuta must lie somewhere between Beruta and Siduna in. Because, by Zimrida of Siduna has no charge, but the blocking of the supply of grain by Iapi-Addi of Beruta is mentioned.   There are mostly small coastal plains between Beruta and Siduna, but at Damour is a somewhat larger coastal plain, where it so desired grain could come from. Is this the land of Yarimuta?   Now the name Yarimuta disappears after the El-Amarna period completely out of the picture. Could it be that the place in the 1st Millennium BC to other Phoenician has been renamed? In that case, Qartimme, Hildua, Inimme, Gy ' , Sikku could be candidates, where Inimme is the most likely.   Problem solved? No, because W.L.Moran reads in EA 77 (letter from Rib-Addi to Amenappa) in the lines 13-15 something different. In English it says: “for I have given axes too him for my deliverance to the king of Tyre” and Moran reads in French: “J’ai donné son šinnu à l’homme de Tyre pour mes vivres”. This would point to an area behind Tyre as possible location for Yarimuta. Maybe it will be Galilee of the Sharon plain. Against this solution speaks that the ships had to cross the sea in front of  Sidon, that was hostile towards Rib Addi of Gubal. So, the question about the location of Yarimuta is still open. Are there more opinions?   See: W.L.Moran 1987. Les letters d’El Amarna, Paris, Editions du Cerf.