Lebanon is the proud barer of the Phoenician culture, which flourished in around 3000 BC. Although the Greeks called
these
ancient peoples the Phoenicians, they are referred to as Sidonians in the Bible and in Homer`s writings. The oldest known Phoenician city is Byblos. The Phonecians were skilful glassmakers and metal workers, but their main legacy was
alphabet, the precursor of todays script. At the time when when the Phoenician, Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures fllourished, Europe was living in barbarism. The Phonecians were master sailors and traders. The Old Continent was named after a Phonician princess.Legend has it that the mighty Greek king of the gods, Zeus, fell in love withe Europa, daugter of Agenor, King of Phoenicia. One day he approached her in the form of a white bull with horns of gold. Fascinated by the strange beauty of the amiable animal, Europa mounted it. At the moment, the bull plunged into the sea with it`s trophy. Thus, Zeus brought Europa to Crete. she became his wife and gave birth to his sons. as a token of great love, Zeus ordered that the part of the world to which the island of Crete belongs be named after his loved one - Europa.