Hercules, Liber Pater, and the origins of Tyre

Abstract Hercules and Liber Pater (Herakles and Dionysos) were called dii patrii in Leptis Magna and Cuicul (now Djémila, in Algeria). These patron gods of Septimius Severus, a native of Leptis, were identified with two Phoenician-Punic gods, Milk‘ashtart and Shadrapha. Edward Lipiński has underlined the essential Greek origin of these dii patrii and recognized their identification with Punic gods as a secondary feature. The choice of Heracles depended on the traditional identification of this god with Melqart, the divine lord of Tyre, homeland of Carthage. Milk‘ashtart was probably a different name of Melqart, worshipped along with Ashtart. The couple Hercules and Liber still lack a clear explanation. A clue resides in the myths of Tyre and the mythic relationships between Greeks and Phoenicians. Tyre, and consequently Carthage, must have been proud of being the homeland of these gods. Herodotus testified to an early cult of Heracles in Tyre, and the birthplace of this hero was Thebes, the city founded by Cadmos, a Phoenician prince. Furthermore, Dionysos was also clearly Theban as the son of Semele, daughter of Cadmos. Tyre and Carthage could claim priority in the cult of these outstanding gods thanks to the foundation myths of Tyre and Thebes.