User:Elias Ziade/sandbox/5

Roman Phoenicia
Pompey annexed Phoenicia to the Roman province of Syria in 64 BC after the disorderly power vacuum caused by Seleucid dynastic struggle. Under the Roman, Phoenician cities thrived on maritime export of crafts and goods to Rome; urban planning, expansion and monumentalization were driven by generous contributions of client kings and wealthy citizens seeking to increase their power and sphere of influence. Berytus, in addition to five Phoenician cities were granted the status of Roman colony, giving the inhabitants full Roman citizenship. Numerous sanctuaries were found in the mountains and hinterland as attested by Lucian of Samosata, a second century rhetor, who visited temples in Mount Lebanon.

Historical background
In 64 BC, Pompey annexed Phoenicia to the Roman province of Syria after years of disorderly power vacuum caused by the Seleucid dynastic wars. By then, Phoenicia was heavily Hellenized and so were the local theonyms according to Byblian historian Philo. Conversely, the wave of Hellenization created pan-Phoenician patriotism and a deeper attachment to pre-Hellenic religious traditions. Phoenician devotion to ancient gods continued under the Roman rule as described in the De dea Syria [ On the Syrian Goddess] treatise by second century AD rhetor Lucian of Samosata. Lucian visited sacred cities of Syria, Phoenicia and the Libanus where numerous mountain sanctuaries were spreading all over the countryside. Temple building, urbanization and monumentalization of cities was financed by generous endowments of client kings and wealthy citizens seeking to increase their power and sphere of influence. The prosperity of Roman Phoenicia was in turn fueled by maritime export and the elevation of numerous Phoenician cities to the status of Roman colony, giving the inhabitants full Roman citizenship.

Of Pheonician gods
Aliquot 115

Berytus by Julius Caesar in 27 BC chosen to settle veterans from V Macedonica and VIII Gallica and renamed colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Berytus

Heliopolis in 194 CE separated from Berytus colonia Iulia Augusta Felix Heliopolis

41 - 54 CE Claudies founded colonia Claudia Stabilis Germanic Felix Ptolemais

Around 198 CE Colonia Septimia Tyrus

218 - 222 Elagabalus Sidon colonia Aurelia Pia metropolis Sidoniorum

Same date Arca colonia Caesarea Libani/Ituraeorum

Something about romans building over existing temples.

Building traditions and roman influence
The Phoenicians perpetuated the ancient tradition of building high-altitude sanctuaries and sacred precincts. Temples were situated on or overlooking mountain summits as the mountains were believed to be sacred dwellings of the gods and giants, guarded by archaic men and wild beasts. Under the influence of suzerain powers, Phoenician temples were Hellenized then Romanized while maintaining balance between foreign elements and Semitic architectural archetypes, among which are tower altars, temenoi and cellas with elevated adytons. The temple of Bziza adheres to this model that characterized Romanized Phoenician temples.