Tanit

Tanit was a principal deity in the Punic pantheon of ancient Carthage, where she was venerated as a goddess of fertility, motherhood, and the celestial sphere. Her name first appears in inscriptions dating to the fifth century BCE, and she quickly became associated with the city’s patron god, Baal Hammon, forming a divine pair that embodied both masculine and feminine principles. Tanit’s role extended to protective functions, and she was invoked for the safety of the community, the success of agricultural cycles, and the well‑being of families.

Iconographically, Tanit is commonly represented by a stylised figure with outstretched arms, a trapezoidal headdress, and a stylised nimbus that may signify a celestial body. Stelae and votive offerings depicting this motif have been uncovered at Carthage and at other Punic settlements throughout the western Mediterranean, including Sardinia, Ibiza, and the Balearic Islands. A prominent sanctuary dedicated to her was located on the Byrsa hill, where ritual practices included animal sacrifice and the dedication of terracotta figurines.

The worship of Tanit persisted after the Roman annexation of Carthage, as evidenced by inscriptions that blend Punic and Latin elements. Over time, her attributes merged with those of the Roman goddess Juno and, later, the Christian Virgin Mary in local traditions. Contemporary archaeological research continues to explore Tanit’s significance, emphasizing her role in the religious syncretism that characterised the Mediterranean world during the first millennium BCE.