bgr_300984 - PHOENICIA - BERYTOS Unité

PHOENICIA - BERYTOS

(2nd - 1st century BC)

Berytus (Beirut) is a very ancient city on the Phoenician coast. It would have been founded according to mythology by Chronos. Known by documents from the Pharaonic period, it only gained importance from the Hellenistic period. She rallied to Alexander the Great. It was often disputed between the Lagids and the Seleucids. It was given the name Laodicea of Phenicia under Seleucus IV or Antiochus IV in honor of their wife Laodice. A mint under the Seleucids, it had a new start when it received its status of inviolability from Antiochus VIII in 110-109 BC. It became autonomous in 81-80 BC with the start of 'a new era. It then experienced great prosperity thanks to the wealth of its hinterland. She followed the destiny of the cities of the East. After Actium, Octavian settled there the veterans of the V Macedonica and VII Gallica legions. Beirut was refounded as a Roman colony in 15 BC.