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For the Oriental self-immolation of the Punic version cf. i. 86 n.

οἱ θύουσι. Hero-worship seems to have been as unknown to the Phoenicians as it was to the Egyptians (ii. 50. 3); nor even if Hamilcar's self-sacrifice was regarded as heroic could it account for a cult in all colonies. Hence Movers and Meltzer suggest that H. has confused Hamilcar = Abd-Melqart, servant of Melcarth, with the Phoenician god Melcarth, whose worship is closely connected with such passing through the fire. Compare Moloch, and the story of Dido.

μνήματα: probably pillars like that in the temple of Melcarth at Tyre (ii. 44. 2).

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