Phoenicia
/fɪˈniː.ʃə/noun
An ancient region on the eastern Mediterranean coast, home to the Phoenicians.
Did you know?The Greeks likely linked *Phoiníkē* to *phoinix* (“purple-red,” and also “phoenix”), which fits the Phoenicians’ famous purple dye trade—but the exact origin of the name is still debated.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Phoiníkē (Φοινίκη)
“The land of the Phoenicians; possibly “purple land” or “land of the palm.””
Classical Greek
Greek
Phoînix (Φοῖνιξ)
“Phoenician; also a purple-red color, a date palm, and the mythical phoenix.”
Latin
Latin
Phoenīcē / Phoenīcia
“Phoenicia; the region and its people as known to the Romans.”
Late Latin
Latin
Phoenicia
“The historical Levantine coastal region.”
Modern English
English
Phoenicia
“The ancient coastal region of the eastern Mediterranean.”