A groundbreaking genetic study has upended long-held beliefs about the origins of the ancient Phoenicians, revealing that they were not solely a Semitic people from the Levant, as previously thought. Instead, the Phoenicians were a genetically diverse group with significant genetic contributions from Mediterranean populations — including Greek DNA from the mainland, the Aegean islands, and Sicily.
The study, recently published in the journal Nature, analyzed the DNA of 210 ancient skeletons from Phoenician burial sites across the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. The findings challenge the dominant theory that the Phoenicians descended solely from the Canaanites — a people of modern-day Israel and Palestine referenced in the Bible. Instead, researchers discovered a rich genetic mosaic that includes clear traces of Greek ancestry.
The Phoenicians first emerged around 3,000 years ago in the Levant — encompassing modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. Though their original cities in the Middle East were conquered around 1200 BCE, Phoenician culture expanded westward, reaching as far as Spain and North Africa. One of their most famous western outposts was the powerful city of Carthage.
The study suggests that the expansion of Phoenician civilization was not primarily driven by mass migration, as seen in other ancient cultures. Rather, it spread through trade and cultural integration, including intermarriage with local populations. These practices helped shape the genetic profile of the Phoenicians, who became a blend of various Mediterranean peoples.
The findings also highlight the far-reaching influence of Phoenician trade and seafaring. Known for creating one of the first alphabets — consisting of 22 consonants — the Phoenicians laid the foundation for Greek and later Latin scripts, which would go on to influence modern writing systems across Europe and beyond.
In essence, the study paints a picture of the Phoenicians not as a monolithic people with a single origin, but as a dynamic and adaptive culture forged through interaction and exchange — with Greek DNA playing a notable role in their genetic and cultural legacy.
