Phoenician Identity in Modern Lebanon

This chapter looks at the influence of Phoenician culture on the identity of modern Lebanon. Legitimizing identity through archaeology has generally been a popular approach to celebrate power and identity. Lebanese generations have made use of Phoenician history, archaeology, and myths to foster a proud and unique identity after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the various ongoing cultural movements reflect a symbiotic relationship between practical behavior and the symbolic realm. While Phoenician identity is embedded in modern Lebanese culture, current sectarianisms are sweeping through the region, as the search for a historical and philosophical basis for the historical Lebanese character continues.