Sarepta

Sarepta
Sarepta is located in Lebanon
Sarepta
Shown within Lebanon
LocationLebanon
RegionSouth Governorate
Coordinates33°27′27″N 35°17′45″E / 33.45750°N 35.29583°E / 33.45750; 35.29583

Sarepta (near modern Sarafand, Lebanon) was a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast between Sidon and Tyre, also known biblically as Zarephath. It became a bishopric, which faded, and remains a double (Latin and Maronite) Catholic titular see.

Most of the objects by which Phoenician culture is characterised are those that have been recovered scattered among Phoenician colonies and trading posts; such carefully excavated colonial sites are in Spain, Sicily, Sardinia and Tunisia. The sites of many Phoenician cities, like Sidon and Tyre, by contrast, are still occupied, unavailable to archaeology except in highly restricted chance sites, usually much disturbed. Sarepta[1] is the exception, the one Phoenician city in the heartland of the culture that has been unearthed and thoroughly studied.

  1. ^ Identification of the site is secured by inscriptions that include a stamp-seal with the name of Sarepta.