Page:History of Art in Phœnicia and Its Dependencies Vol 1.djvu/162

CHAPTER III. SEPULCHRAL ARCHITECTURE. i. 77/6' Ideas of the Phoenicians as to a Future Life. THE Phoenicians have left us no literature in which to learn their ideas and sentiments upon death and its consequences, and there is nothing in the inscriptions on their tombs to fill up the void. Of these we possess a certain number, but, on the one hand, they are not very old, on the other, they are singularly short and dry. They give us the names and titles of the deceased, but not a hint of his beliefs and hopes. To this there is but one exception, in the text engraved on the sarcophagus of Esmounazar, king of Sidon (Fig. 86). l This text runs to twenty-two long lines, and yet it tells us hardly anything of what we most want to know. It proves that the defunct had a very lively dread of violation for his tomb. It begins by declaring to all possible tomb-breakers and robbers that they will find nothing to reward their trouble. " Do not open this coffin for the sake of treasure ; there are no treasures in it ! " This is all very well, but the tomb-breaker may answer as he applies his crowbar, " Never mind ; we will just see whether you speak the truth." Esmounazar foresees this peril, and he employs another means to stop those vho may refuse to take him at his word. He in- vokes the aid of Astarte and other gods and goddesses against all who may disturb his rest, and prays that the latter may die child- less, and may in their last sleep be denied that repose which they had refused to him. This solemn imprecation is repeated twice over, in almost identical terms, as if the author of the prayer thought by such means to give it a more certain efficacy. 1 Corpus Inscriplionum Semilicarnm, part i. No. 3.