Melqurt

Melqurt West Asia
The Canaanite Heracles and city god of Tyre. At his temple, Herodotus tells us, there were two tall pillars, ‘one of pure gold, the other of emerald, which shone brilliantly at night’. He was connected with the sea and with navigation: Cape Melqart exists in Sicily and it is not unlikely that the Pillars of Hercules were once called the Pillars of Melqart. He died by fire and his annual awakening was celebrated at a festival held in January.