FINGERE L’IDENTITÀ” TEN YEARS ON: PHOENCIANS BEYOND IDENTITY

Abstract

Ten years ago, on the occasion of the publication of the fortieth number of the Rivista di Studi Fenici, I had
the opportunity to begin my line of research on the problem of Phoenician identity. The main purpose of my contribution
published in that issue, which had the emblematic title “Fingere l’identità fenicia”, was to explore some of the
problems that I considered fundamental to a renewed formulation of the question (which was first raised in 1963 by
Sabatino Moscati). A decade on from that contribution, therefore, on the occasion of the fiftieth issue of the Rivista di
Studi Fenici, I would like to revisit the main aspects of the problem, exploring some parts of it in more depth. Above
all, I aim to reflect on the point we have now reached in relation to a theme that is central – as identity certainly is – to
studies dedicated to Phoenician culture.

Keywords: Phoenicians; Identity; Similarities; Differences; Melqart; Astarte; Cult.