Featured Article Summary #52

The sarcophagus of Eshmunazar II, a Phoenician king, was unearthed in 1855 in modern-day Lebanon. It is one of only three Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi found outside of Egypt. The sarcophagus was likely carved in Egypt and taken as booty by the Sidonians during their participation in Cambyses II's conquest of Egypt. The sarcophagus has two sets of Phoenician inscriptions, providing valuable information about the king and his accomplishments. The discovery of the sarcophagus led to increased interest in archaeological research in the area and it remains a highlight of the Louvre's Phoenician collection. Eshmunazar II was a Phoenician king who reigned over Sidon from around 539 BC to 525 BC. He was a vassal king under the Achaemenid Empire and succeeded his father, Tabnit I, on the throne. Eshmunazar II and his mother, Queen Amoashtart, were responsible for constructing new temples and religious buildings in dedication to Phoenician gods. The Phoenicians had diverse mortuary practices, including inhumation and cremation. Elite Phoenician burials involved the use of sarcophagi and a focus on maintaining the integrity of the tomb. Archaeological evidence of these practices has been found in the hinterland of Sidon. The sarcophagus of Eshmunazar II was discovered in 1855 by Alphonse Durighello and his workmen. They were digging in an ancient necropolis in Sidon when they found the sarcophagus outside of a rocky mound. Some bones and a tooth were also found during the excavation. Durighello took advantage of the Ottoman rule and the absence of laws governing excavation to obtain the exclusive right to dig from the land owner. Ownership of the sarcophagus was disputed between Durighello and the British vice-consul general in Syria. The French wanted the sarcophagus for their museum and got involved in the dispute. Eventually, the case was settled in favor of Durighello and the sarcophagus was sold to a French nobleman and later donated to the Louvre.