ABSTRACT
Like every ancient society, the Carthaginians had a very large number of gods and goddesses. Most of their major deities they had brought from Phoenicia. Zakarbaal had been high priest of Astarte at Tyre, Melqart was that city’s protecting god, and Baal Hammon was the most prominent aspect of the chief god, Baal, of Phoenicia. In turn Baal Iddir, Baal Marqod, Baal Oz, Baal Qarnem, Baal Sapon and Baal Shamim were other aspects – or in the eyes of many
Carthaginians were other gods, as the word b‘l essentially means ‘lord’. In fact Baal Shamim (B‘l šmm), ‘lord of the skies’, had been the leading Baal in early Phoenicia, but at Carthage he held a place less prominent than Baal Hammon.
