Roma – The expression Mare Nostrum was established by the Romans, in around 30 b.C., to name the Mediterranean, showing the strength of the empire. In 2010, the same expression is being used by a project of the European Commission (EC) to bring together six cities in the region – ancient Phoenician ports -, recalling local culture, the development of tourism and the exchange of knowledge between countries. It is the modern version of Mare Nostrum, which covers a common route between Tyre (Lebanon), Tartus (Syria), Carthage (Tunisia), Syracuse (Sicily, Italy), Rhodes (Greece) and Valletta (Malta).
Mare Nostrum started being developed in 2008, when a group of observers of organisations like Parelleli Institute and the University of Florence, both in Italy, felt the need to re-establish a connection between the countries of the Mediterranean. They found the thread to connect them in Paris, France, at the Arab World Institute (IMA). That year, the museum was presenting to visitors a great art exhibition about the Phoenician civilization.
Known for their excellent navigation skills and refined culture, the Phoenicians were responsible for the development of almost all maritime trade routes of the Mediterranean, connecting North Africa to Europe. They established the most important port cities of the time, like Carthage, in Tunisia, and made them into sites not just for the exchange of products, but also knowledge, language and culture.
The Phoenicians, according to the organisers of the project, had a particular way of promoting development. Located in the mountains that are currently in Lebanon and Syria, they observed other cultures and were also very creative. To simplify trade, which they developed by crossing seas, for example, they established an alphabet, their greatest contribution to the modern world. Different from the Romans, they were peaceful and sought to integrate the regions they incorporated. And it is with this spirit that the Mare Nostrum project plans to involve the six cities, their residents and visitors.
The first step was taken on Tuesday (13) with the inauguration of site www.eh4-marenostrum.net, financed by the Euromed Heritage 4 program, of the EC, with the support of Italian organisations (Parelleli and the University of Florence) , the cities of Rhodes and Tyre and Saint Joseph University, in Lebanon. The page has information about Mare Nostrum and its implementation. Part, however, is still under construction. It will be established with figures collected during the evolution of the program, which should last 42 months, and should also include tourist and historical information about each of the cities participating.
Modern problematic
The Mare Nostrum proposal is also to identify current problems of the cities that are the subject of the program. These problems, according to the organisers, are common to all, as they have the same port-city roots. The joint work should help in the development of strategies for the promotion of tourism, recreating ancient ties between the six cities, appreciating the particularities of each one, involving the local community, but always working on a joint itinerary, one that is complementary, bringing together the past and the present, ancient and modern.
Mare Nostrum also hopes to generate more efficient dialogue between the countries of the Mediterranean, improving relations between these peoples who have a strong historic and cultural connection, due to the Phoenician presence. The involvement will be developed through two routes. First through the mobilisation of local and artistic communities, promoting for example, exhibitions, art festivals, music and theatre, covering all six cities. For this, the partnership with the city administration will be fundamental. Local artisans should also be stimulated to work using the theme of recreation of the maritime trade route as a tourist route.
The involvement of students, scholars and professors is another important operation front for the program. There should be seminars to discuss the historic importance of Phoenician routes for the development of each one of the regions, for example. Visits to the cities that are included in the route, to local museums and to the cultural and archaeological routes proposed also include the actions proposed by Mare Nostrum.
*Translated by Mark Ament
