Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History
The Phoenicians in Malta: Traders Who Forged an Island
· 7:45 · S4 E172
Episode The Phoenicians in Malta: Traders Who Forged an Island
Long before the Knights or the Romans, another seafaring people left an indelible mark on Malta: the Phoenicians. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the arrival of these master traders from the Levant around the 8th century BCE, and how they transformed Malta into a vital hub in their Mediterranean network. They explore the founding of settlements like Maleth (modern Mdina) and the creation of unique Phoenician-Maltese cultural blends, from the fusion god Melqart-Heracles to the Phoenician-influenced pottery that still surfaces in fields today. Lucas explains how Phoenician commercial savvy—and their alphabet—laid the groundwork for Maltese identity long before the island became a fortress. Luna asks about the mysterious 'cart ruts' and whether they tie back to Phoenician activity. The episode also covers the sanctuary of Astarte at Tas-Silġ, the rivalry with the Greeks, and the eventual absorption into the Carthaginian sphere. A surprising look at Malta's first global age, where trade, not war, shaped a civilisation.
#Phoenicians #Malta #MediterraneanHistory #Melqart #Astarte #TasSilg #Maleth #Mdina #AncientTrade #CartRuts #PhoenicianAlphabet #Carthage #GreekColonisation #Archaeology #AncientHistory #History #FexingoHistory #IslandHistory
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Transcript
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