Archaeologists have uncovered the secret of the surviving symbol of the goddess Tanith after the death of Carthage

Archaeologists and historians have studied the phenomenon of the Tanith sign, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Phoenician and Punic worlds, which continued to exist in the culture of the Mediterranean even after the fall of Carthage. This was reported by Arkeonews magazine on June 1.

The abstract image, consisting of a triangular body, a horizontal crossbar and a disk, is found on coins, amulets and ritual steles from North Africa to Sicily, Malta and Spain.

According to the publication, the Tanith sign is a condensed memory of a maritime civilization whose written records were largely lost, but whose symbols continued to speak.

Researchers pay special attention to Tophet in Carthage, the burial place of urns and steles dedicated to the goddess. There are still discussions in the scientific community about the nature of this monument. Some experts, relying on ancient sources, consider it a place of ritual sacrifices of children, while others believe that it was a specialized cemetery for infants who died of natural causes.

The cult's influence allegedly extended far beyond Africa. Significant traces of goddess worship have been found in the Es Culeram cave sanctuary on the island of Ibiza. After Rome destroyed Carthage in 146 BC, the Punic faith did not disappear. In Roman North Africa, Tanith's features were absorbed into the cult of Juno Celestis. According to the magazine, the preservation of this symbol over the centuries proves that the Phoenician culture survived the military defeat of its capital.

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On May 28, Arkeonews reported the discovery of Bronze Age gold necklaces in Romania. According to the publication, the jewelry was part of a 3,000-year-old treasure that was found in Prahova County, northeast of Bucharest.