Jezebel

Few women of the ancient world have left a reputation as powerful and controversial as Jezebel.

Born a princess of the great Phoenician city of Tyre in the ninth century BCE, Jezebel entered the history of the Levant through a political marriage to King Ahab of Israel. At a time when kingdoms rose and fell amid shifting alliances, trade networks, and religious rivalries, she stood at the intersection of two worlds: the maritime civilization of Phoenicia and the inland kingdom of Israel.

Drawing upon biblical texts, archaeology, and the broader history of the ancient Near East, this book examines Jezebel within the political and cultural realities of her time. Rather than repeating later legends alone, it places her story within the wider context of the Omride dynasty, the religious traditions of the Levant, and the conflicts between royal authority and prophetic movements that shaped the history of Israel.

From the royal courts of Samaria to the gardens and temples influenced by Phoenician culture, Jezebel emerges not simply as a figure of later reputation but as a queen navigating the turbulent politics of the Iron Age.

By placing the narrative within its historical setting, Jezebel: Princess of Tyre and Queen of Israel offers a balanced exploration of one of antiquity's most debated royal figures.

Part of the Powerful Female Rulers of Antiquity series, this volume continues the exploration of women whose lives shaped the political and cultural landscapes of the ancient world.