Melkart

Melqart (𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕) was the tutelary god of the Phoenician city-state of Tyre and a major deity in the Phoenician and Punic pantheons. He may have been central to the founding-myths of various Phoenician colonies throughout the Mediterranean, as well as the source of several myths concerning the exploits of Heracles. Many cities were thought to be founded (in one way or another) and protected by Melqart, no doubt springing from the original Phoenician practice of building a Temple of Melqart at new colonies. Similar to Tammuz and Adonis, he symbolized an annual cycle of death and rebirth. Melqart was typically depicted as a bearded or with sideburns, dressed only in either a lion's skin or rounded shepherd's hat, and a loincloth. Reflecting his dual role as both protector of the world and ruler of the underworld, he was often shown holding an Ankh or Flower as a symbol of life, and a fenestrated axe as a symbol of death. As Tyrian trade, colonization and settlement expanded, Melqart became venerated in Phoenician and Punic cultures across the Mediterranean, especially its colonies of Carthage and Cádiz. During the high point of Phoenician civilization between 1000 and 500 BCE, Melqart was associated with other pantheons and often venerated accordingly. Most notably, he was identified with the Greek Heracles and the Roman Hercules since at least the sixth century BCE, and eventually became interchangeable with his Greek counterpart. In Cyprus, Melqart was syncretized with Eshmun and Asclepius, and also in Ibiza, as given by a dedication reciting: "to his lord, Eshmun-Melqart". In Tyre, women, foreigners, and pork were not allowed in the sanctuary of Melqart's temple. Melqart was written in the Phoenician abjad as (𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕 Mīlqārt). Edward Lipinski theorizes that it was derived from (𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤒𐤓𐤕 Mīlk-Qārt), which means "King of the City". The name is sometimes transcribed as Melkart, Melkarth, or Melgart. In Akkadian, his name was written Milqartu. To the Greeks and the Romans, who identified Melqart with Hercules, he was often distinguished as the Tyrian Hercules.