Phoenicia #224888

In the Preface to my Ancient Egypt under the Pharaohs, it was announced that the continuation would include Syria and Phœnicia. It has been found, however, that Phœnicia alone afforded ample materials for a volume, and the two countries have hardly any historical connexion with each other. Indeed the history of Syria, if we exclude Judæa and Phœnicia, is little more than that of the kingdom of Damascus. It has never had any political unity except when subject to a foreign power. Even the history of the kingdom of Damascus, notwithstanding the priæmval antiquity of the city, is confined to the dynasty of Rezon and the Benhadads, and its relations to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Till the time of the Macedonian Conquest, Syria Proper has scarcely any place in the general history of the world.<br><br>There are two authors, an intimate acquaintance witli whose works must be presumed 011 the part of every one who undertakes to write on Phœnicia.