No further resistance was made by the Phoenician cities. Ochus marched
on against Egypt and effected its reconquest.[14343] The Cyprian revolt
was put down by the Prince of Caria, Istricus.[14344] A calm, prelude to
the coming storm, settled down upon Persia; and Phoenicia participated
in the general tranquillity. The various communities, exhausted by
their recent efforts, and disappointed with the result, laid aside their
political aspirations, and fell back upon their commercial instincts.
Trade once more flourished. Sidon rose again from her ashes, and
recovered a certain amount of prosperity. She held the coast from
Leontopolis to Ornithonpolis, and possessed also the dependency of
Dor;[14345] but she had lost Sarepta to Tyre,[14346] which stepped into
the foremost place among the cities on her fall, and retained it until
destroyed by Alexander. The other towns which still continued to be of
some importance were Aradus, and Gebal or Byblus. These cities, like
Tyre and Sidon, retained their native kings,[14347] who ruled their
several states with little interference from the Persians. The line of
monarchs may be traced at Sidon for five generations, from the first
Esmunazar, who probably reigned about B.C. 460-440, through three
generations and four kings, to the second Strato, the contemporary of
Alexander.[14348] The first Esmunazar was succeeded by his son, Tabnit,
about B.C. 440. Tabnit married his sister, Am-Ashtoreth, priestess of
Ashtoreth, and had issue, two sons, Esmunazar II., whose tomb was found
near Sidon by M. de Vogüé in the year 1855, and Strato I. Esmunazar II.
is thought to have died about B.C. 400, and to have been succeeded by
his brother Strato, the Proxenus of Athens, who reigned till B.C. 361.
On Strato’s death, his son, the second Tabnit--known to the Greeks as
Tennes--mounted the throne, and reigned till B.C. 345, when he was put
to death by Ochus. A second Strato, the son of Tennes, then became king,
and retained his sovereignty till after the battle of Issus[14349] (B.C.
333).
6. Phoenicia in the time of Alexander the Great (B.C. 333-323)
Alexander’s invasion of Asia--Preparations made to resist
it, insufficient--What should have been done--Movements of
Memnon in B.C. 333--His death--Paralysis of the Persian
fleet--Attack on Phoenicia after Issus--Submission of all
the cities but Tyre--Siege of Tyre--Fall of the city--Cruel
treatment of the inhabitants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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