Elissa: Princess and Founder of Carthage
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Goal:
Goal:
Read the story below to learn more about the ancient Phoenicians.
Elissa sailed until she arrived in the Gulf of Africa. There she saw a land so fertile and welcoming, she knew in her heart that this was the settling ground where she was destined to bring her people. Gladly, they anchored their ship until, upon reaching the shore, the settlers came upon a large group of people native to that land. Elissa greeted them kindly, and they were enchanted by her grace and beauty. “I have come only to bargain for land.” She said. The King of their tribe answered willingly that she should take as much land as could be covered with an ox-hide. Nodding gratefully, Elissa ordered a large ox-hide to be brought forth from the hull of the ship. She then had the hide cut into the thinnest of strips, and laid these strips along the ground. So it was there that the great city of Carthage found its beginnings. It was not long before many people came to see this city that Elissa had erected so quickly. The land was fertile, crops were abundant, and travel and trade was easy along such a welcoming seacoast. Elissa ruled in peace and prosperity, always encouraging her people to widen their hearts and share their wisdom with all who longed to join them. In this way, Carthage grew strong and beautiful to behold. And so the prophecy was fulfilled, for Elissa, in her wisdom and generosity, did finally rule over the most prosperous city in all the world.
Elissa: Princess and Founder of Carthage
Long ago and far away, there once lived a great King in the city of Tyre. He was a wise and good king, beloved of his people. But it was not long before the King grew ill. He called to him his son, Pygmalion, and his daughter, Elissa. “I am aware,” he said to them, “that my time is over on this Earth, and I am called to name my successor.” Pygmalion grew concerned at this, for he knew that he was to be the next ruler of Tyre. “Pygmalion,” the king called, “you have much to learn, my son. Though you are strong, it is your strength that leads you to forget your heart. I have chosen Elissa to follow me, for it has been foretold that she shall lead the greatest city in the entire world.” With these words, the good king died.
Elissa wept, but Pygmalion only turned quickly and called out to the court, “The king, my father, has gone to the gods; I will reign in his stead!” The court cheered, and so it was that Pygmalion, not Elissa, was named the next ruler of Tyre. Now, it was, in those times, that women did not rule. Elissa had no choice but to bend to her brother’s will.
King Pygmalion was not satisfied. He was angry that his father had chosen his sister to rule and wanted revenge, so he demanded that his sister marry a man named Acerbas, a much older, wealthy noble who was struck by Elissa’s beauty. Though she was saddened by this request, Elissa again did her brother’s bidding and married Acerbas. But the result was not as Pygmalion expected. Acerbas treated Elissa well, with fondness and love. In return, Elissa grew more and more devoted to her husband. Pygmalion was enraged and had Acerbas stolen away in the hopes that he might steal his treasure in his absence.
“Where is the money that your husband has hidden away?” Pygmalion demanded of his sister. “I know not, brother, and only wish to see my husband again. If I knew, I would give you all that we have, for his wealth has no meaning for me.” Pygmalion stormed away, thinking that she must know where Acerbas’s treasure lay.
That night, a servant stole into Elissa’s bed chamber and said, “Fair maiden, there is trouble afoot. Your brother intends to lock you up forever if you do not tell him where Acerbas’s gold is buried. Please, you must leave and save yourself!” Elissa was obedient, but she was not unwise, so she cut her hair and made herself look as though she were a man. Then, she gathered her most trusted followers and proposed that they steal away together and build a new city; one based on trust and good will. Elissa and her followers ran down to the river’s edge and climbed aboard a great sailing ship.
They carried provisions and goods, as much as they could gather. When Pygmalion heard of his sister’s plan to leave, he sent soldiers down to the river to stop them. Elissa, however, had anticipated this and called out to the warriors as they reached the river, “Here is your master’s money, but you must swim for it!” So saying, Elissa threw bag upon bag over the side of the ship, just as they were sailing away. Pygmalion paused as he decided which action to take. Finally, his greed overwhelmed him. “Fools,” he cried. “Get the gold!” One by one, his men dove into the river after the bags as Elissa’s ship sailed to safety. One by one, each man surfaced carrying a bag, filled to the brim with sand.
Elissa wept, but Pygmalion only turned quickly and called out to the court, “The king, my father, has gone to the gods; I will reign in his stead!” The court cheered, and so it was that Pygmalion, not Elissa, was named the next ruler of Tyre. Now, it was, in those times, that women did not rule. Elissa had no choice but to bend to her brother’s will.
King Pygmalion was not satisfied. He was angry that his father had chosen his sister to rule and wanted revenge, so he demanded that his sister marry a man named Acerbas, a much older, wealthy noble who was struck by Elissa’s beauty. Though she was saddened by this request, Elissa again did her brother’s bidding and married Acerbas. But the result was not as Pygmalion expected. Acerbas treated Elissa well, with fondness and love. In return, Elissa grew more and more devoted to her husband. Pygmalion was enraged and had Acerbas stolen away in the hopes that he might steal his treasure in his absence.
“Where is the money that your husband has hidden away?” Pygmalion demanded of his sister. “I know not, brother, and only wish to see my husband again. If I knew, I would give you all that we have, for his wealth has no meaning for me.” Pygmalion stormed away, thinking that she must know where Acerbas’s treasure lay.
That night, a servant stole into Elissa’s bed chamber and said, “Fair maiden, there is trouble afoot. Your brother intends to lock you up forever if you do not tell him where Acerbas’s gold is buried. Please, you must leave and save yourself!” Elissa was obedient, but she was not unwise, so she cut her hair and made herself look as though she were a man. Then, she gathered her most trusted followers and proposed that they steal away together and build a new city; one based on trust and good will. Elissa and her followers ran down to the river’s edge and climbed aboard a great sailing ship.
They carried provisions and goods, as much as they could gather. When Pygmalion heard of his sister’s plan to leave, he sent soldiers down to the river to stop them. Elissa, however, had anticipated this and called out to the warriors as they reached the river, “Here is your master’s money, but you must swim for it!” So saying, Elissa threw bag upon bag over the side of the ship, just as they were sailing away. Pygmalion paused as he decided which action to take. Finally, his greed overwhelmed him. “Fools,” he cried. “Get the gold!” One by one, his men dove into the river after the bags as Elissa’s ship sailed to safety. One by one, each man surfaced carrying a bag, filled to the brim with sand.
Elissa sailed until she arrived in the Gulf of Africa. There she saw a land so fertile and welcoming, she knew in her heart that this was the settling ground where she was destined to bring her people. Gladly, they anchored their ship until, upon reaching the shore, the settlers came upon a large group of people native to that land. Elissa greeted them kindly, and they were enchanted by her grace and beauty. “I have come only to bargain for land.” She said. The King of their tribe answered willingly that she should take as much land as could be covered with an ox-hide. Nodding gratefully, Elissa ordered a large ox-hide to be brought forth from the hull of the ship. She then had the hide cut into the thinnest of strips, and laid these strips along the ground. So it was there that the great city of Carthage found its beginnings. It was not long before many people came to see this city that Elissa had erected so quickly. The land was fertile, crops were abundant, and travel and trade was easy along such a welcoming seacoast. Elissa ruled in peace and prosperity, always encouraging her people to widen their hearts and share their wisdom with all who longed to join them. In this way, Carthage grew strong and beautiful to behold. And so the prophecy was fulfilled, for Elissa, in her wisdom and generosity, did finally rule over the most prosperous city in all the world.