The Phoenicians were a group of people occupying the coastal region of the Levant. The name originated from the Greek word for “Land of the Palms” -Phoenicia. The Phoenicians however referred to themselves as Canaanites. They are known for seafaring and dominated trade across the classical antiquity, establishing an extensive network of commercial and cultural exchange with Greece, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Like the Greeks, the Phoenicians were organised in political independent city-states, most prominently Tyre, Sidon and Byblos. A colony was also founded in Carthage which grew to become the capital of the Punic Empire. The Phoenician script was also thought to be the oldest alphabet, heavily influencing the Greek script. However, the Phoenicians remain enigmatic to this day due to the lack of written records.
The Dea Gravida was a female figure possibly a goddess associated with procreation and fertility which originated from Phoenician culture. The Dea Gravida is usually depicted as a naked young woman supporting her breasts with one or both hands and a swollen abdomen. Her head is covered with a veil and she is usually seated with her feet resting on a small footstool. The city of Tyre and Sidon were one of the most important production centres of this type of figurines. Votive terracotta statues have been found throughout the Mediterranean, most notably in Phoenicia, Carthage and Cyprus.
