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Lastly in Sicily the straits of Messana and the larger eastern half of the island had fallen at an early period into the hands of the Greeks; but the Phoenicians, with the help of the Carthaginians, retained the smaller adjacent islands, the Aegates, Melita, Gaulos, Cossyra the settlement in Malta especially was rich and flourishing and they kept the west and north-west coast of Sicily, whence they maintained communication with Africa by means of Motya and afterwards of Lilybaeum and with Sardinia by means of Panormus and Soluntum.

The same name was imported into Greek under the form of gaulos, and we are told that it signified "a Phoenician vessel of rounded shape." The language of Canaan was practically that which we call Hebrew. There were differences, however; the Hebrew definite article, for instance, is not found in the Phoenician texts.

Lastly in Sicily the straits of Messana and the larger eastern half of the island had fallen at an early period into the hands of the Greeks; but the Phoenicians, with the help of the Carthaginians, retained the smaller adjacent islands, the Aegates, Melita, Gaulos, Cossyra the settlement in Malta especially was rich and flourishing and they kept the west and north-west coast of Sicily, whence they maintained communication with Africa by means of Motya and afterwards of Lilybaeum and with Sardinia by means of Panormus and Soluntum.

In the Central and Western Mediterranean in Africa, Utica, Hippo-Zaritis, Hippo Regius, Carthage, Hadrumetum, Leptis Minor, Leptis Major, and Thapsus; in Sicily, Motya, Eryx, Panormus, Solocis; between Sicily and Africa, Cossura, Gaulos, and Melita; in Sardinia, Caralis, Nora, Sulcis, and Tharros; in the Balearic Isles; in Spain, Malaca, Sex, Abdera. 3.

The worship of Osiris in the later times appears from such names as Abd-Osir, Osir-shamar, Melek-Osir, and the like, and is represented on coins with Phoenician legends, which are attributed either to Malta or Gaulos. Osiris was, it would seem, identified with Adonis, and was said to have been buried at Byblus; which was near the mouth of the Adonis river.

At the south-west angle no fewer than thirty-one courses of this massive character have been counted by the recent explorers, who estimate the weight of the largest block at something above a hundred tons! A similar method of construction is found to have prevailed at Tyre, at Sidon, at Aradus, at Byblus, at Leptis Major, at Eryx, at Motya, at Gaulos, and at Lixus on the West African coast.

Gaulos had a port which was reckoned sufficiently commodious, and which lay probably towards the south-east end of the island. Melita, or Malta, which lies at a short distance from Gozzo, to the south-east, is an island of more than double the size, and of far greater importance. It possesses in La Valetta one of the best harbours, or rather two of the best harbours, in the world.