Queries & Comments

No Debate on Phoenician Inscription from Brazil

To the Editor:

I enjoyed Frank Moore Cross’ article on the Paraiba inscription (“Phoenicians in Brazil?” BAR 05:01) and found his arguments convincing. (By the way, I think you did a good job translating an otherwise technical study into the language of a lay reader.) Only one thing bothers me—how could a reputable scholar like Cyrus Gordon make the mistake of considering the inscription authentic in the face of the scholarly evidence amassed by Dr. Cross? One would think he’d have weighed all the considerations Dr. Cross has brought up. I am not writing to criticize Dr. Gordon, but I’d like to know what you think.

To the Editor:

Professor Cross’ article is certainly believable. It appears conclusive to me. Thank you for printing it. It certainly answers some questions for me. To lend weight to Professor Cross’ conclusion, it might be worth noting that Dr. William F. Albright of Johns Hopkins University, a noted archaeologist and experienced in the Phoenician language, and Johannes Friedrich, author of Phonizisch-punische Grammatic, are both numbered among those who reject the authenticity of the Paraiba inscription.