Russell Murphy, Age 10, of Dalton, Ga., for his question:

Who were the Phoenicians?

Ancient Phoenicia was a strip of land along what is now the coast of Syria. The homeland of the famous Phoenicians was no more than 200 miles long and 20 miles wide. Yet these energetic and ambitious people achieved world renown and contributed greatly to the civilizations of 3000 Years ago.

At home the Phoenicians were farmers, fruit growers and manufacturers. At their city of Sidon they made glassware, and at their city of Tyre they made purple dye. But they were most famous for their trading ships and their bold mariners. Their ships voyaged between all the Mediterranean ports and through the Straits of Gibraltar.